title: Naturally occurring testis-specific histone H3 antisense transcripts in Drosophila.
abstract: While analysing the transcription of the cluster of cell-cycle regulated histone genes in Drosophila hydei, we have found transcripts spanned both histone H3 and H4 genes and were antisense for histone H3. As the two histone genes are in opposite orientation, these transcripts contained the sense strand of the histone H4 gene. Such transcripts were present in both poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNA fractions. The polyadenylated molecules contained a poly(A) tail at the 3' end of the stem-loop structure, which is characteristic for cell-cycle regulated histone mRNAs. The antisense RNA of histone H3 is synthesized exclusively in testes. By developing an improved protocol of in situ hybridization to Drosophila testis squashes, we could demonstrate that the antisense transcripts are localized in the nuclei of primary spermatocytes. Possible functions of this RNA are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhmanova
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miedema
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hennig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D006657:Histones; D016372:RNA, Antisense