title: Binding of Drosophila maternal Mamo protein to chromatin and specific DNA sequences.
abstract: Alterations in chromatin structure dynamically occur during germline development in Drosophila and are essential for the production of functional gametes. We had previously reported that the maternal factor Mamo, which contains both a BTB/POZ domain and C₂H₂ zinc-finger domains and is enriched in primordial germ cells (PGCs), is required for the regulation of meiotic chromatin structure and the production of functional gametes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Mamo regulates germline development remained unclear. To evaluate the molecular function of Mamo protein, we have investigated the binding of Mamo to chromatin and DNA sequences. Our data show that Mamo binds to chromatin and specific DNA sequences, particularly the polytene chromosomes of salivary gland cells. Overexpression of Mamo affected the organization of polytene chromosomes. Reduction in maternal Mamo levels impaired the formation of germline-specific chromatin structures in PGCs. Furthermore, we found that the zinc-finger domains of Mamo directly bind to specific DNA sequences. Our results suggest that Mamo plays a role in regulating chromatin structure in PGCs.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe 658-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hira
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011485:Protein Binding; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C525794:MAMO protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA
keywords: C(2)H(2) zinc-finger protein; Chromatin binding; DNA binding; PGC