Stable intronic sequence RNAs have possible regulatory roles in Drosophila melanogaster.
Stable intronic sequence RNAs (sisRNAs) have been found in Xenopus tropicalis, human cell lines, and Epstein-Barr virus; however, the biological significance of sisRNAs remains poorly understood. We identify sisRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster by deep sequencing, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Northern blotting. We characterize a sisRNA (sisR-1) from the regena (rga) locus and show that it can be processed from the precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA). We also document a cis-natural antisense transcript (ASTR) from the rga locus, which is highly expressed in early embryos. During embryogenesis, ASTR promotes robust rga pre-mRNA expression. Interestingly, sisR-1 represses ASTR, with consequential effects on rga pre-mRNA expression. Our results suggest a model in which sisR-1 modulates its host gene expression by repressing ASTR during embryogenesis. We propose that sisR-1 belongs to a class of sisRNAs with probable regulatory activities in Drosophila.
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604 junwei@tll.org.sg.
Jun Wei
JW
Pek
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604.
Ismail
I
Osman
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604.
Mandy Li-Ian
ML
Tay
Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore 599489.
Ruther Teo
RT
Zheng
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C111075:RGA protein, Drosophila; D012322:RNA Precursors; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012097:Repressor Proteins