An interactive network of long non-coding RNAs facilitates the Drosophila sex determination decision.

ABSTRACT: Genome analysis in several eukaryotes shows a surprising number of transcripts which do not encode conventional messenger RNAs. Once considered noise, these non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) appear capable of controlling gene expression by various means. We find that Drosophila sex determination, specifically the master-switch gene Sex-lethal (Sxl), is regulated by long ncRNAs (>200nt). The lncRNAs influence the dose sensitive establishment promoter of Sxl, SxlPe, which must be activated to specify female sex. They are primarily from two regions, R1 and R2, upstream of SxlPe and show a dynamic developmental profile. Of the four lncRNA strands only one, R2 antisense, has its peak coincident with SxlPe transcription, suggesting that it may promote activation. Indeed, its expression is regulated by th

SUBMITTER: Mulvey BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4134978 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature