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Title: RNA from a simple-tandem repeat is required for sperm maturation and male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster

Journal Article · · eLife
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
  3. National Univ. of Ireland, Galway (Ireland)
  4. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Tandemly-repeated DNAs, or satellites, are enriched in heterochromatic regions of eukaryotic genomes and contribute to nuclear structure and function. Some satellites are transcribed, but we lack direct evidence that specific satellite RNAs are required for normal organismal functions. Here, we show satellite RNAs derived from AAGAG tandem repeats are transcribed in many cells throughout Drosophila melanogaster development, enriched in neurons and testes, often localized within heterochromatic regions, and important for viability. Strikingly, we find AAGAG transcripts are necessary for male fertility, and that AAGAG RNA depletion results in defective histone-protamine exchange, sperm maturation and chromatin organization. Since these events happen late in spermatogenesis when the transcripts are not detected, we speculate that AAGAG RNA in primary spermatocytes ‘primes’ post-meiosis steps for sperm maturation. In addition to demonstrating essential functions for AAGAG RNAs, comparisons between closely related Drosophila species suggest that satellites and their transcription evolve quickly to generate new functions.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Science Foundation (NSF); Science Foundation Ireland–Health Research Board–Wellcome Trust (SFI-HRB-WT); Science Foundation Ireland –President of Ireland Young Research Award (SFI-PIYRA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1591826
Journal Information:
eLife, Journal Name: eLife Vol. 8; ISSN 2050-084X
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd.Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (1)

Decoding the Role of Satellite DNA in Genome Architecture and Plasticity—An Evolutionary and Clinical Affair journal January 2020

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
cell biology
chromosomes and gene expression
heterochromatin
histone-protamine exchange
non-coding RNA
repetitive RNA
satellite RNA
spermatogenesis