Gudu, an Armadillo repeat-containing protein, is required for spermatogenesis in Drosophila.
The Drosophila annotated gene CG5155 encodes a protein that contains 10 Armadillo-repeats and has an unknown function. To fill this gap, we performed loss-of-function studies using RNAi. By analysis of four independent Drosophila RNAi lines targeting two non-overlapping regions of the CG5155 transcript, we demonstrate that this gene is required for male fertility. Therefore, we have named this gene Gudu. The transcript of Gudu is highly enriched in adult testes. Knockdown of Gudu by a ubiquitous driver leads to defects in the formation of the individualization complex that is required for spermatid maturation, thereby impairing spermatogenesis. Furthermore, testis-specific knockdown of Gudu by crossing the RNAi lines with the bam-Gal4 driver is sufficient to cause the infertility and defective spermatogenesis. Since Gudu is highly homologous to vertebrate ARMC4, also an Armadillo-repeat-containing protein enriched in testes, our results suggest that Gudu and ARMC4 are a subfamily of Armadillo-repeat containing proteins that may have an evolutionarily conserved function in spermatogenesis.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Wei
W
Cheng
Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Y Tony
YT
Ip
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Zuoshang
Z
Xu
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C585121:Gudu protein, Drosophila
4′,6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole, Dihydrochloride; ARM; ARMC4; Armadillo; Armadillo Repeat Containing protein 4; Armadillo repeats; DAPI; Don Juan-Green Fluorescent Protein; Drosophila; Gudu; IC; Individualization complex; Niemann–Pick type C-1; PBS; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rab; Ras-related proteins in brain; Spermatogenesis; bag of marbles; bam; dj-GFP; double stranded; ds; individualization complex; mRNA; messenger RNA; npc1; phosphate-buffered saline; qPCR; quantitative PCR