Binding of Drosophila maternal Mamo protein to chromatin and specific DNA sequences |
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Authors: | Seiji Hira Takahiro Okamoto Masato Fujiwara Hiroaki Kita Satoru Kobayashi Masanori Mukai |
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Affiliation: | 1. Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe 658-8501, Japan;2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Japan;3. Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan;4. Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | C2H2 zinc-finger protein DNA binding Chromatin binding PGC |
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