Non-coding RNA Expression, Function, and Variation During Drosophila Embryogenesis

Overview

Journal Curr Biol

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Biology

Date 2018 Nov 6

PMID 30393032

Citations 28

Authors

Ignacio E Schor

Giovanni Bussotti

Matilda Males

Mattia Forneris

Rebecca R Viales

Anton J Enright

Eileen E M Furlong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can often function in the regulation of gene expression during development; however, their generality as essential regulators in developmental processes and organismal phenotypes remains unclear. Here, we performed a tailored investigation of lncRNA expression and function during Drosophila embryogenesis, interrogating multiple stages, tissue specificity, nuclear localization, and genetic backgrounds. Our results almost double the number of annotated lncRNAs expressed at these embryonic stages. lncRNA levels are generally positively correlated with those of their neighboring genes, with little evidence of transcriptional interference. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization, we report the spatiotemporal expression of 15 new lncRNAs, revealing very dynamic tissue-specific patterns. Despite this, deletion of selected lncRNA genes had no obvious developmental defects or effects on viability under standard and stressed conditions. However, two lncRNA deletions resulted in modest expression changes of a small number of genes, suggesting that they fine-tune expression of non-essential genes. Several lncRNAs have strain-specific expression, indicating that they are not fixed within the population. This intra-species variation across genetic backgrounds may thereby be a useful tool to distinguish rapidly evolving lncRNAs with as yet non-essential roles.

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