MicroRNAs downregulate Bag of marbles to ensure proper terminal differentiation in the Drosophila male germline.

ABSTRACT: In many adult stem cell lineages, the continuous production of functional differentiated cells depends on the maintenance of progenitor cells in an undifferentiated and proliferative state, as well as the subsequent commitment to proper terminal differentiation. In the Drosophila male germline stem cell (GSC) lineage, a key differentiation factor, Bag of marbles (Bam), is required for the transition from proliferative spermatogonia to differentiating spermatocytes. We show that bam mRNA, but not Bam, is present in spermatocytes, suggesting that bam is regulated post-transcriptionally. Consistent with this, repression of Bam accumulation is achieved by microRNAs via the bam 3'UTR. When the bam 3'UTR was substituted with the 3'UTR of a constitutively expressed α-Tubulin, Bam became stabilize

SUBMITTER: Eun SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3513990 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature