The ThioredoxinT and deadhead gene pair encode testis- and ovary-specific thioredoxins in Drosophila melanogaster.
So far, two thioredoxin proteins, DHD and Trx-2, have been biochemically characterized in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, with the cloning and characterization of TrxT we describe an additional thioredoxin with testis-specific expression. TrxT and dhd are arranged as a gene pair, transcribed in opposite directions and sharing a 471 bp regulatory region. We show that this regulatory region is sufficient for correct expression of the two genes. This gene pair makes a good model for unraveling how closely spaced promoters are differentially regulated by a short common control region. Both TrxT and DHD proteins are localized within the nuclei in testes and ovaries, respectively. Use of a transgenic construct expressing TrxT fused to Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein reveals a clear association of TrxT with the Y chromosome lampbrush loops ks-1 and kl-5 in primary spermatocytes. The association is lost in the absence of the Y chromosome. Our results suggest that nuclear thioredoxins may have regulatory functions in the germline.
UCMP, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Malin J
MJ
Svensson
J Don
JD
Chen
Vincenzo
V
Pirrotta
Jan
J
Larsson
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D040461:Gene Components; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C491201:DHD protein, Drosophila; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C488000:TrxT protein, Drosophila; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria; D013879:Thioredoxins