m6A增强了Sxl替代的mRNA前拼接,以进行强大的Drosophila性别确定
Irmgard U Haussmann1,2, Zsuzsanna Bodi3, Eugenio Sanchez-Moran1
1School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Nature
|December 6, 2016
概括
在Drosophila中,N-甲基氨酸 (m6A) RNA修饰对于女性特异性Sxl基因的替代拼接至关重要. 这种古老的机制涉及m6A读者蛋白YT521-B,调节基因表达并防止女性的剂量补偿.
科学领域:
- 分子生物学
- 表观遗传学
- 核糖核酸生物学
背景情况:
- N-甲基氨酸 (m6A) 是真核细胞信使RNA (mRNA) 中最常见的内部修饰,由YTH域蛋白识别.
- 包括METTL3和WTAP在内的m6A甲基酶组复合物与Drosophila同类物种如Ime4和Fl(2) d保持一致.
- m6A在内基区域中的作用及其在调节替代拼接的精确功能,特别是在性别确定方面,基本上是未知的.
研究的目的:
- 研究m6A在Drosophila中的功能,特别是其在替代拼接和性别确定中的作用.
- 阐明m6A影响性致死 (Sxl) 基因拼接的机制.
- 在Sxl前mRNA中识别负责解码m6A信号的m6A读取蛋白.
主要方法:
- 产生和分析Drosophila Ime4-null突变物
- 性别测定试验和突变体的表型分析.
- 进行RNA测序和替代拼接分析.
- 研究m6A阅读蛋白YT521-B的功能.
主要成果:
- 缺乏Ime4 (Ime4-null突变体) 的虫是可行的,但表现出男性偏向的性别决定,并且无法飞行.
- m6A对于Sxl的女性特异性替代拼接至关重要,对女性发育至关重要.
- 在女性中,m6A还可转化抑制男性特异性致死性2 (msl-2),防止剂量补偿.
- m6A读取蛋白YT521-B直接与Sxl内中的m6A结合,而它的缺失则会导致Ime4突变的复制.
- m6A的丧失会影响其他基因的替代拼接,特别是在5' UTR中,并影响全球代谢基因表达.
结论:
- 对于雌性特异性Sxl替代拼接和Drosophila的性别确定,m6A修饰是必不可少的.
- m6A阅读蛋白YT521-B在调节m6A依赖的拼接中发挥着至关重要的作用.
- 这项研究揭示了m6A是通过替代拼接调节基因表达的古老和特定机制,特别是在性别决定的背景下.
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