Elba early boundary factor complex in Drosophila melanogaster

Elba is a heterotrimeric chromatin boundary (insulator) factor active in the early embryo. It binds a specific DNA sequence in the Fab-7 boundary of the Bithorax complex and gives the boundary its early insulating activity. Elba1 and Elba2 are BEN-domain DNA-binding proteins, and Elba3 bridges them; Elba3 is expressed only in early embryos, which restricts the complex to that stage.

MODULE:dmel_elba_boundary_complexDRAFTCONCRETEProtein Complexmodules/dmel_elba_boundary_complex.yaml
transcription regulator complexGO:0005667
FB:FBgg0000720
FlyBase gene group ELBA: Elba boundary factor complex
FlyBase release FB2026_03 groups 3 D. melanogaster genes as elba boundary factor complex (ELBA); this module models that group.
GO:0005667
transcription regulator complex
GO term grounding the module as transcription regulator complex.

No GO cellular-component term exists for Elba or insulator complexes, so the module is grounded to transcription regulator complex. A three-subunit complex without further sub-structure; it is decomposed one part per subunit. Chromatin insulator sequence binding (GO:0043035; GOA IDA for Elba1 and Elba2) is recorded on a complex-level annoton with all three subunits as active units, because the Elba1, Elba2 and Elba3 gene reviews record that the BEN-domain subunits contribute to it as part of the heterotrimer. The bridging subunit Elba3 is also given protein-macromolecule adaptor activity (GO:0030674; GOA IDA), its core function in its gene review. FlyBase groups realized by this module: ELBA (FBgg0000720). Participants were generated from the FlyBase gene-group membership and mapped to UniProtKB by projects/FLYBASE_GENE_GROUPS/generate_modules.py from module_specs/dmel_elba_boundary_complex.yaml. Member genes with a gene review in this repository: Elba1, Elba2, Elba3.

4Nodes
3Parts
0Variant Sets
0Variants
4Annotons
0Connections

Derived QC

Recommended-field compliance

100.0% recommended fields populated

All recommended fields populated.

Module deep research

✗ none found

No MODULE:dmel_elba_boundary_complex deep-research report alongside the module YAML.

Leaf nodes lacking representative members

✓ every leaf node grounds to a representative protein.

Template conformance

✓ every declared conforms_to bundle matches its template motif.

Function consistency and core coverage

1 gene-function check(s) reflected in core functions · 0 conflict(s) · 0 evidence or coverage gap(s) (2 comparison(s))

Retained noncore functions are reported separately; they do not require promotion to core functions. Support from representative genes does not establish conservation across the whole family. Missing reviews or identifiers leave a claim unverified.

AnnotonParticipantFunctionAssessment
dmel_elba_boundary_complex_complex_activity PROTEIN_COMPLEX
Gene 		chromatin insulator sequence binding
GO:0043035 		Participant Unchecked
No direct UniProt participant to compare. Abstract selectors and complex-wide activities cannot be inferred from donor or subunit gene reviews.
dmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba3_elba3 Elba3
UniProtKB:Q9VR19
Gene 		protein-macromolecule adaptor activity
GO:0030674 		Core Supported
The GO molecular function is reflected in core_functions (exact term or a reviewed subclass).

Gene-review completeness (3/3 grounded genes reviewed)

3 complete review(s) · 3 with deep research · 0 missing review · 0 reviewed but lacking deep research

Gene Review Complete Deep research
Elba1 Q9VR17 ✓ ✓ ✓
Elba2 Q9VQD6 ✓ ✓ ✓
Elba3 Q9VR19 ✓ ✓ ✓

Details

Context
Drosophila melanogasterNCBITaxon:7227
chromatinGO:0000785
Elba complexProtein Complexdmel_elba_boundary_complex

Embryonic heterotrimeric insulator factor (Elba1, Elba2, Elba3) that binds the Fab-7 boundary.

transcription regulator complexGO:0005667
Context
Drosophila melanogasterNCBITaxon:7227
chromatinGO:0000785

Annotons

Elba complex activity
dmel_elba_boundary_complex_complex_activity
Participant: Protein Complex: Elba complex
Protein Complex:
Elba complex
Active units:
Elba1
Participant: Gene Product: Elba1
Gene Product:
Elba1UniProtKB:Q9VR17
Role: BEN-domain DNA-binding subunit
Elba2
Participant: Gene Product: Elba2
Gene Product:
Elba2UniProtKB:Q9VQD6
Role: BEN-domain DNA-binding subunit
Elba3
Participant: Gene Product: Elba3
Gene Product:
Elba3UniProtKB:Q9VR19
Role: bridging subunit

Function

chromatin insulator sequence bindingGO:0043035

Binds the CCAATAAG Elba site in the Fab-7 boundary as an Elba1-Elba2-Elba3 heterotrimer and confers early embryonic enhancer-blocking activity.

Part 1: BEN-domain DNA-binding subunit
Elba1Moduledmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba1

Annotons

Elba1 subunit
dmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba1_elba1
Participant: Gene Product: Elba1
Gene Product:
Elba1UniProtKB:Q9VR17

BEN-domain DNA-binding subunit

Part 2: BEN-domain DNA-binding subunit
Elba2Moduledmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba2

Annotons

Elba2 subunit
dmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba2_elba2
Participant: Gene Product: Elba2
Gene Product:
Elba2UniProtKB:Q9VQD6

BEN-domain DNA-binding subunit

Part 3: bridging subunit
Elba3Moduledmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba3

Annotons

Elba3 subunit
dmel_elba_boundary_complex_elba3_elba3
Participant: Gene Product: Elba3
Gene Product:
Elba3UniProtKB:Q9VR19

Function

protein-macromolecule adaptor activityGO:0030674

bridging subunit