E2F Regulation of the Phosphoglycerate Kinase Gene is Functionally Important in Drosophila Development.

The canonical role of the transcription factor E2F is to control the expression of cell cycle genes by binding to the E2F sites in their promoters. However, the list of puta-tive E2F target genes is extensive and includes many metabolic genes, yet the signif-icance of E2F in controlling the expression of these genes remains largely unknown. Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to introduce point mutations in the E2F sites upstream of five endogenous metabolic genes in Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the impact of these mutations on both the recruitment of E2F and the expression of the target genes varied, with the glycolytic gene, Phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk), being mostly affected. The loss of E2F regulation on the Pgk gene led to a decrease in glycolytic flux, tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates levels, aden-osine triphosphate (ATP) content, and an abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Remarkably, chromatin accessibility was significantly reduced at multiple genomic regions in Pgk & UDelta;E2F mutants. These regions contained hundreds of genes, including metabolic genes that were downregulated in Pgk & UDelta;E2F mutants. Moreover, Pgk & UDelta;E2F animals had shortened life span and exhibited defects in high-energy consuming organs, such as ovaries and muscles. Collectively, our results illustrate how the plei-otropic effects on metabolism, gene expression, and development in the Pgk & UDelta;E2F animals underscore the importance of E2F regulation on a single E2F target, Pgk.