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Huang Y, Wang T, Jiang C, Li S, Zhou H, Li R. Relish-facilitated lncRNA-CR11538 suppresses Drosophila Imd immune response and maintains immune homeostasis via decoying Relish away from antimicrobial peptide promoters. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 151:105098. [PMID: 37956726 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.105098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Innate immunity plays a crucial role in host defense against pathogen invasion and its strength and duration requires precise control. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become important regulators of innate immunity, yet their roles in Drosophila immune responses remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified that the overexpression of lncRNA-CR11538 inhibits the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) Dpt and AttA in Drosophila upon Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection, and influences the survival rate of flies after E. cloacae infection. Mechanically, lncRNA-CR11538 decoys Relish away from AMPs promoter region. We further revealed that Relish can promote the transcription of lncRNA-CR11538. After analyzing the dynamic expression profile of lncRNA-CR11538 during Imd immune response, we put forward a hypothesis that in the late stage of Imd immune response, lncRNA-CR11538 can be activated by Relish and further decoy Relish away from the AMPs promoter to suppress excessive immune signal and maintain immune homeostasis. This mechanism we proposed provides insights into the complex regulatory networks controlling immune responses in Drosophila and suggests potential targets for therapeutic intervention in diseases involving dysregulated immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China
| | - Tan Wang
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China
| | - Chun Jiang
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China; Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 210002, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Shengjie Li
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China
| | - Hongjian Zhou
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China; Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 210002, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Ruimin Li
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, 455000, PR China.
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MacPherson RA, Shankar V, Sunkara LT, Hannah RC, Campbell MR, Anholt RRH, Mackay TFC. Pleiotropic fitness effects of the lncRNA Uhg4 in Drosophila melanogaster. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:781. [PMID: 36451091 PMCID: PMC9710044 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08972-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse class of RNAs that are critical for gene regulation, DNA repair, and splicing, and have been implicated in development, stress response, and cancer. However, the functions of many lncRNAs remain unknown. In Drosophila melanogaster, U snoRNA host gene 4 (Uhg4) encodes an antisense long noncoding RNA that is host to seven small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Uhg4 is expressed ubiquitously during development and in all adult tissues, with maximal expression in ovaries; however, it has no annotated function(s). RESULTS We used CRISPR-Cas9 germline gene editing to generate multiple deletions spanning the promoter region and first exon of Uhg4. Females showed arrested egg development and both males and females were sterile. In addition, Uhg4 deletion mutants showed delayed development and decreased viability, and changes in sleep and responses to stress. Whole-genome RNA sequencing of Uhg4 deletion flies and their controls identified co-regulated genes and genetic interaction networks associated with Uhg4. Gene ontology analyses highlighted a broad spectrum of biological processes, including regulation of transcription and translation, morphogenesis, and stress response. CONCLUSION Uhg4 is a lncRNA essential for reproduction with pleiotropic effects on multiple fitness traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A MacPherson
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - Lakshmi T Sunkara
- Present adress: Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Livestock Poultry Health, Clemson University, 500 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC, 29229, USA
| | - Rachel C Hannah
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - Marion R Campbell
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - Robert R H Anholt
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA.
| | - Trudy F C Mackay
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA.
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Zhou H, Wu S, Liu L, Li R, Jin P, Li S. Drosophila Relish Activating lncRNA-CR33942 Transcription Facilitates Antimicrobial Peptide Expression in Imd Innate Immune Response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:905899. [PMID: 35720331 PMCID: PMC9201911 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.905899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an emerging class of regulators that play crucial roles in regulating the strength and duration of innate immunity. However, little is known about the regulation of Drosophila innate immunity-related lncRNAs. In this study, we first revealed that overexpression of lncRNA-CR33942 could strengthen the expression of the Imd pathway antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes Diptericin (Dpt) and Attacin-A (AttA) after infection, and vice versa. Secondly, RNA-seq analysis of lncRNA-CR33942-overexpressing flies post Gram-negative bacteria infection confirmed that lncRNA-CR33942 positively regulated the Drosophila immune deficiency (Imd) pathway. Mechanistically, we found that lncRNA-CR33942 interacts and enhances the binding of NF-κB transcription factor Relish to Dpt and AttA promoters, thereby facilitating Dpt and AttA expression. Relish could also directly promote lncRNA-CR33942 transcription by binding to its promoter. Finally, rescue experiments and dynamic expression profiling post-infection demonstrated the vital role of the Relish/lncRNA-CR33942/AMP regulatory axis in enhancing Imd pathway and maintaining immune homeostasis. Our study elucidates novel mechanistic insights into the role of lncRNA-CR33942 in activating Drosophila Imd pathway and the complex regulatory interaction during the innate immune response of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Zhou
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Liu
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruimin Li
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, China
| | - Ping Jin
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Ping Jin, ; Shengjie Li,
| | - Shengjie Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Construction Laboratory of Special Biomass Byproduct Resource Utilization, School of Food Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Ping Jin, ; Shengjie Li,
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Zhou H, Li S, Pan W, Wu S, Ma F, Jin P. Interaction of lncRNA-CR33942 with Dif/Dorsal Facilitates Antimicrobial Peptide Transcriptions and Enhances Drosophila Toll Immune Responses. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:1978-1988. [PMID: 35379744 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila Toll signaling pathway mainly responds to Gram-positive (G+) bacteria or fungal infection, which is highly conserved with mammalian TLR signaling pathway. Although many positive and negative regulators involved in the immune response of the Toll pathway have been identified in Drosophila, the roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Drosophila Toll immune responses are poorly understood to date. In this study, our results demonstrate that lncRNA-CR33942 is mainly expressed in the nucleus and upregulated after Micrococcus luteus infection. Especially, lncRNA-CR33942 not only modulates differential expressions of multiple antimicrobial peptide genes but also affects the Drosophila survival rate during response to G+ bacterial infection based on the transiently overexpressing and the knockdown lncRNA-CR33942 assays in vivo. Mechanically, lncRNA-CR33942 interacts with the NF-κB transcription factors Dorsal-related immunity factor/Dorsal to promote the transcriptions of antimicrobial peptides drosomycin and metchnikowin, thus enhancing Drosophila Toll immune responses. Taken together, this study identifies lncRNA-CR33942 as a positive regulator of Drosophila innate immune response to G+ bacterial infection to facilitate Toll signaling via interacting with Dorsal-related immunity factor/Dorsal. It would be helpful to reveal the roles of lncRNAs in Toll immune response in Drosophila and provide insights into animal innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Zhou
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Shengjie Li
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; and.,Jiangsu Provincial Key Construction Laboratory of Special Biomass Byproduct Resource Utilization, School of Food Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanwan Pan
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Fei Ma
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Ping Jin
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; and
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Zhou H, Ni J, Wu S, Ma F, Jin P, Li S. lncRNA-CR46018 positively regulates the Drosophila Toll immune response by interacting with Dif/Dorsal. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 124:104183. [PMID: 34174242 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Toll signaling pathway is highly conserved from insects to mammals. Drosophila is a model species that is commonly used to study innate immunity. Although many studies have assessed protein-coding genes that regulate the Toll pathway, it is unclear whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play regulatory roles in the Toll pathway. Here, we evaluated the expression of the lncRNA CR46018 in Drosophila. Our results showed that this lncRNA was significantly overexpressed after infection of Drosophila with Micrococcus luteus. A CR46018-overexpressing Drosophila strain was then constructed; we expected that CR46018 overexpression would enhance the expression of various antimicrobial peptides downstream of the Toll pathway, regardless of infection with M. luteus. RNA-seq analysis of CR46018-overexpressing Drosophila after infection with M. luteus showed that upregulated genes were mainly enriched in Toll and Imd signaling pathways. Moreover, bioinformatics predictions and RNA-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that CR46018 interacted with the transcription factors Dif and Dorsal to enhance the Toll pathway. During gram-positive bacterial infection, flies overexpressing CR46018 showed favorable survival compared with flies in the control group. Overall, our current work not only reveals a new immune regulatory factor, lncRNA-CR46018, and explores its potential regulatory model, but also provides a new perspective for the effect of immune disorders on the survival of Drosophila melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Zhou
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China.
| | - Jiajia Ni
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China.
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China.
| | - Fei Ma
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China.
| | - Ping Jin
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, PR China.
| | - Shengjie Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Construction Laboratory of Special Biomass Byproduct Resource Utilization, School of Food Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, 211171, PR China.
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Zhou H, Li S, Wu S, Jin P, Ma F. LncRNA-CR11538 Decoys Dif/Dorsal to Reduce Antimicrobial Peptide Products for Restoring Drosophila Toll Immunity Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810117. [PMID: 34576280 PMCID: PMC8468853 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Avoiding excessive or insufficient immune responses and maintaining homeostasis are critical for animal survival. Although many positive or negative modulators involved in immune responses have been identified, little has been reported to date concerning whether the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can regulate Drosophila immunity response. In this study, we firstly discover that the overexpression of lncRNA-CR11538 can inhibit the expressions of antimicrobial peptides Drosomycin (Drs) and Metchnikowin (Mtk) in vivo, thereby suppressing the Toll signaling pathway. Secondly, our results demonstrate that lncRNA-CR11538 can interact with transcription factors Dif/Dorsal in the nucleus based on both subcellular localization and RIP analyses. Thirdly, our findings reveal that lncRNA-CR11538 can decoy Dif/Dorsal away from the promoters of Drs and Mtk to repress their transcriptions by ChIP-qPCR and dual luciferase report experiments. Fourthly, the dynamic expression changes of Drs, Dif, Dorsal and lncRNA-CR11538 in wild-type flies (w1118) at different time points after M. luteus stimulation disclose that lncRNA-CR11538 can help Drosophila restore immune homeostasis in the later period of immune response. Overall, our study reveals a novel mechanism by which lncRNA-CR11538 serves as a Dif/Dorsal decoy to downregulate antimicrobial peptide expressions for restoring Drosophila Toll immunity homeostasis, and provides a new insight into further studying the complex regulatory mechanism of animal innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Zhou
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China; (H.Z.); (S.L.); (S.W.); (F.M.)
| | - Shengjie Li
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China; (H.Z.); (S.L.); (S.W.); (F.M.)
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Construction Laboratory of Special Biomass Byproduct Resource Utilization, School of Food Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China; (H.Z.); (S.L.); (S.W.); (F.M.)
| | - Ping Jin
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China; (H.Z.); (S.L.); (S.W.); (F.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-25-85891050
| | - Fei Ma
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China; (H.Z.); (S.L.); (S.W.); (F.M.)
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Li C, Hu J, Liu P, Li Q, Chen J, Cui Y, Zhou X, Xue B, Zhang X, Gao X, Zu X. A comprehensive evaluation of differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs in cystitis glandularis with gene ontology, KEGG pathway, and ceRNA network analysis. Transl Androl Urol 2020; 9:232-242. [PMID: 32420128 PMCID: PMC7214972 DOI: 10.21037/tau.2020.03.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cystitis glandularis (CG) is a proliferative disorder of the urinary bladder characterized by transitional cells that have undergone glandular metaplasia. The underlying mechanism associated with this transformation is poorly understood. Methods The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) from normal bladder mucosa and CG were compared using microarray analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis was used to describe molecular interactions. Results Microarray analysis identified 809 significantly dysregulated mRNAs in CG tissues; 606 were up-regulated and 203 were down-regulated (greater than 2-fold difference in expression from normal tissue, P<0.05). KEGG pathway analysis showed that the mRNAs that co-expressed with lncRNAs were enriched in the cell cycle regulation pathway. Four up-regulated lncRNAs (ENST00000596379, ENST00000463397, NR_001446 and NR_015395) were identified in the coding-non-coding co-expression (CNC) network analysis as being associated with the expression of four mRNAs (SMAD3, ORC1, CCNA2 and CCNB2). NR_015395 was revealed to be a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-133a-3p that targets SMAD3. Conclusions This is the first work to measure the expression of dysregulated lncRNA and ceRNA in CG and identify the crosstalk between mRNA and lncRNA expression patterns in the pathogenesis of CG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Jiao Hu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Peihua Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Qiaqia Li
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Jinbo Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yu Cui
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Bichen Xue
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xiongbing Zu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
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Insights into the Functions of LncRNAs in Drosophila. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184646. [PMID: 31546813 PMCID: PMC6770079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides (nt). LncRNAs have high spatiotemporal specificity, and secondary structures have been preserved throughout evolution. They have been implicated in a range of biological processes and diseases and are emerging as key regulators of gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. Comparative analyses of lncRNA functions among multiple organisms have suggested that some of their mechanisms seem to be conserved. Transcriptome studies have found that some Drosophila lncRNAs have highly specific expression patterns in embryos, nerves, and gonads. In vivo studies of lncRNAs have revealed that dysregulated expression of lncRNAs in Drosophila may result in impaired embryo development, impaired neurological and gonadal functions, and poor stress resistance. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional mechanisms of lncRNAs and mainly focus on recent insights into the transcriptome studies and biological functions of lncRNAs in Drosophila.
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