How would the overexpression of BLD affect the transcript levels of Fursilla?

(A) Fursilla transcript levels would increase.
(B) Fursilla transcript levels would decrease.
(C) Fursilla transcript levels would be unaffected.
(D) Fursilla transcript would completely disappear.

A gene responsible for production of hair pigment in dogs is called Fursilla (frsl). A map of the Fursilla locus is shown in Figure 1, below. When expressed, it results in darkly pigmented dog fur. When unexpressed, the hair is devoid of pigmentation and appears pure white. Expression of Fursilla (frsl) depends on the binding/lack of binding of several proteins: Nefur (NEFR), Lesfur (LSFR), and Dirkfur (DRKFR). Figure 2 shows the relative levels of frsl transcript as measured via RT-qPCR when each protein is overexpressed or unexpressed in the cell.

Transcribed Image Text:

mRNA levels 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1220 Start site 1295 Figure 1. Map of the Fursilla region of chromosome 8 Levels of Fursilla transcript NEFR DRKFR LSFR Protein Overexpressed in the Cell mRNA levels 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1617 Levels of Fursilla transcript NEFR DRKFR Protein Unexpressed in the Cell LSFR