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GAGA protein is essential for male germ cell development in Drosophila
Author(s) -
Dorogova Natalia V.,
Fedorova Elena V.,
Bolobolova Elena Us.,
Ogienko Anna A.,
Baricheva Elina M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.22789
Subject(s) - biology , germ cell , spermatocyte , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , germline , spermatogenesis , mutant , morphogenesis , sterility , mutation , gene , drosophila melanogaster , sperm , meiosis , endocrinology
Summary The Drosophila Trithorax‐like (Trl) gene encodes a GAGA factor which regulates a number of developmentally important genes. In this study, we identify a new function for Drosophila GAGA factor in male germ cell development. Trl mutants carrying strong hypomorphic alleles display loss of primordial germ cells during their migration in embryogenesis and severe disruption in mitochondria structure during early spermatogenesis. The mutation resulted in small testes formation, a deficit of germ cells, abnormal mitochondrial morphogenesis, spermatocyte death through autophagy, and partial or complete male sterility. Pleiotropic mutation effects can be explained by the misexpression of GAGA factor target genes, the products of which are required for germ cell progression into mature sperm. genesis 52:738–751, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.