Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe 658-8501, Japan.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Aug 16;438(1):156-60. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.07.045. Epub 2013 Jul 20.
Alterations in chromatin structure dynamically occur during germline development in Drosophila and are essential for the production of functional gametes. We had previously reported that the maternal factor Mamo, which contains both a BTB/POZ domain and C₂H₂ zinc-finger domains and is enriched in primordial germ cells (PGCs), is required for the regulation of meiotic chromatin structure and the production of functional gametes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Mamo regulates germline development remained unclear. To evaluate the molecular function of Mamo protein, we have investigated the binding of Mamo to chromatin and DNA sequences. Our data show that Mamo binds to chromatin and specific DNA sequences, particularly the polytene chromosomes of salivary gland cells. Overexpression of Mamo affected the organization of polytene chromosomes. Reduction in maternal Mamo levels impaired the formation of germline-specific chromatin structures in PGCs. Furthermore, we found that the zinc-finger domains of Mamo directly bind to specific DNA sequences. Our results suggest that Mamo plays a role in regulating chromatin structure in PGCs.
染色质结构的改变在果蝇生殖细胞发育过程中动态发生，对于产生功能配子是必不可少的。我们之前曾报道过，富含原始生殖细胞（PGC）的母性因子 Mamo 既含有 BTB/POZ 结构域，又含有 C₂H₂锌指结构域，它对于调节减数分裂染色质结构和产生功能配子是必需的。然而，Mamo 调节生殖细胞发育的分子机制尚不清楚。为了评估 Mamo 蛋白的分子功能，我们研究了 Mamo 与染色质和 DNA 序列的结合。我们的数据表明，Mamo 与染色质和特定的 DNA 序列结合，特别是唾液腺细胞的多线染色体。Mamo 的过表达影响多线染色体的组织。母源 Mamo 水平的降低损害了 PGC 中生殖细胞特异性染色质结构的形成。此外，我们发现 Mamo 的锌指结构域直接与特定的 DNA 序列结合。我们的结果表明，Mamo 在调节 PGC 中的染色质结构中发挥作用。
