Post-meiotic transcription in Drosophila testes.
Post-meiotic transcription was accepted to be essentially absent from Drosophila spermatogenesis. We identify 24 Drosophila genes whose mRNAs are most abundant in elongating spermatids. By single-cyst quantitative RT-PCR, we demonstrate post-meiotic transcription of these genes. We conclude that transcription stops in Drosophila late primary spermatocytes, then is reactivated by two pathways for a few loci just before histone-to-transition protein-to-protamine chromatin remodelling in spermiogenesis. These mRNAs localise to a small region at the distal elongating end of the spermatid bundles, thus they represent a new class of sub-cellularly localised mRNAs. Mutants for a post-meiotically transcribed gene (scotti), are male sterile, and show spermatid individualisation defects, indicating a function in late spermiogenesis.
Barreau
Carine
C
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
Benson
Elizabeth
E
Gudmannsdottir
Elin
E
Newton
Fay
F
White-Cooper
Helen
H
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012333:RNA, Messenger