title: Transcriptional properties and splicing of the flamenco piRNA cluster.
abstract: In Drosophila, the piRNA cluster, flamenco, produces most of the piRNAs (PIWI-interacting RNAs) that silence transposable elements in the somatic follicle cells during oogenesis. These piRNAs are thought to be processed from a long single-stranded precursor transcript. Here, we demonstrate that flamenco transcription is initiated from an RNA polymerase II promoter containing an initiator motif (Inr) and downstream promoter element (DPE) and requires the transcription factor, Cubitus interruptus. We show that the flamenco precursor transcript undergoes differential alternative splicing to generate diverse RNA precursors that are processed to piRNAs. Our data reveal dynamic processing steps giving rise to piRNA cluster precursors.
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Coline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goriaux
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Desset
authors.forename: Yoan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaury
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brasset
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005810:Multigene Family; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000502:physiology; D012326:RNA Splicing; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092937:ci protein, Drosophila; C121420:stan protein, Drosophila; D012319:RNA Polymerase II