Poster The Allied Genetics Conference 2020.pdf (1.72 MB)
Long non-coding RNA regulation of spermatogenesis via endo/lysosome activity and cytoskeletal elements in Drosophila
poster
posted on 2020-04-20, 23:40 authored by Mark Bouska, Hua BaiThe spectrin cytoskeleton has been shown
to be critical in diverse processes such as axon development and degeneration,
myoblast fusion, and spermatogenesis. Spectrin can be modulated in a tissue
specific manner through junctional protein complexes, however, it has not been
shown that lncRNAs interact with and regulate spectrin during varied processes.
Here we provide evidence of a lncRNA that interacts with α and β Spectrin to
regulate spermatogenesis and endosomal related activity in fat bodies of Drosophila.
Protein-RNA and Protein-Protein biochemical analysis indicated the interaction
between α and β Spectrin is modulated by the lncRNA CR45362.
Immunocytochemistry revealed CR45362 is highly expressed in the basal testis
while α and β Spectrin are clearly disrupted in this same region of CR45362
mutants. We genetically demonstrate α Spectrin and CR45362 deficiencies cause
spermatid bundling defects with congruous reduction of cortical lipid droplet
size and Lysotracker staining in the fat body. Our data suggests lncRNA
regulation of spectrin could provide cells with a repertoire of modulatory
molecules to manipulate cell type specific cytoskeletal and endosomal
requirements.