Biomaterial Database

An analysis of maleless and histone H4 acetylation in Drosophila melanogaster spermatogenesis. 1998

L Rastelli, and M I Kuroda

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Maleless (mle) is essential in Drosophila melanogaster males both in somatic cells and in germ cells. In somatic cells mle is necessary for X-chromosome dosage compensation. The role of mle in the germline is unknown. We have analyzed the expression pattern and localization of MLE, the other MSLs and acetylated isoforms of histone H4 in male germ cells to address whether dosage compensation and/or X inactivation occur in the Drosophila germline. We observed that MLE is the only MSL expressed in the male germ cells and it is not localized to the X chromosome. We conclude that in the germline mle is not involved in chromosomal dosage compensation but may be involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. We also observed that the acetylation pattern of histone H4 is very dynamic during spermatogenesis. While the pattern is not compatible with dosage compensation or X inactivation, it is consistent with all premeiotic chromosomes being in an active configuration that is replaced in post-meiotic stages with an inactive chromatin constitution.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009687	Nuclear Proteins	Proteins found in the nucleus of a cell. Do not confuse with NUCLEOPROTEINS which are proteins conjugated with nucleic acids, that are not necessarily present in the nucleus.	Nucleolar Protein,Nucleolar Proteins,Nuclear Protein,Protein, Nuclear,Protein, Nucleolar,Proteins, Nuclear,Proteins, Nucleolar
D002868	Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone	Nucleoproteins, which in contrast to HISTONES, are acid insoluble. They are involved in chromosomal functions; e.g. they bind selectively to DNA, stimulate transcription resulting in tissue-specific RNA synthesis and undergo specific changes in response to various hormones or phytomitogens.	Non-Histone Chromosomal Proteins,Chromosomal Proteins, Non Histone,Chromosomal Proteins, Nonhistone,Non-Histone Chromosomal Phosphoproteins,Chromosomal Phosphoproteins, Non-Histone,Non Histone Chromosomal Phosphoproteins,Non Histone Chromosomal Proteins,Nonhistone Chromosomal Proteins,Proteins, Non-Histone Chromosomal
D002875	Chromosomes	In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Chromosome
D004265	DNA Helicases	Proteins that catalyze the unwinding of duplex DNA during replication by binding cooperatively to single-stranded regions of DNA or to short regions of duplex DNA that are undergoing transient opening. In addition, DNA helicases are DNA-dependent ATPases that harness the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to translocate DNA strands.	ATP-Dependent DNA Helicase,DNA Helicase,DNA Unwinding Protein,DNA Unwinding Proteins,ATP-Dependent DNA Helicases,DNA Helicase A,DNA Helicase E,DNA Helicase II,DNA Helicase III,ATP Dependent DNA Helicase,ATP Dependent DNA Helicases,DNA Helicase, ATP-Dependent,DNA Helicases, ATP-Dependent,Helicase, ATP-Dependent DNA,Helicase, DNA,Helicases, ATP-Dependent DNA,Helicases, DNA,Protein, DNA Unwinding,Unwinding Protein, DNA,Unwinding Proteins, DNA
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D004303	Dosage Compensation, Genetic	Genetic mechanisms that allow GENES to be expressed at a similar level irrespective of their GENE DOSAGE. This term is usually used in discussing genes that lie on the SEX CHROMOSOMES. Because the sex chromosomes are only partially homologous, there is a different copy number, i.e., dosage, of these genes in males vs. females. In DROSOPHILA, dosage compensation is accomplished by hypertranscription of genes located on the X CHROMOSOME. In mammals, dosage compensation of X chromosome genes is accomplished by random X CHROMOSOME INACTIVATION of one of the two X chromosomes in the female.	Dosage Compensation (Genetics),Gene Dosage Compensation,Hypertranscription, X-Chromosome,X-Chromosome Hypertranscription,Compensation, Dosage (Genetics),Compensation, Gene Dosage,Compensation, Genetic Dosage,Dosage Compensation, Gene,Gene Dosage Compensations,Genetic Dosage Compensation,Genetic Dosage Compensations,Hypertranscription, X Chromosome,X Chromosome Hypertranscription
D004331	Drosophila melanogaster	A species of fruit fly frequently used in genetics because of the large size of its chromosomes.	D. melanogaster,Drosophila melanogasters,melanogaster, Drosophila
D005854	Germ Cells	The reproductive cells in multicellular organisms at various stages during GAMETOGENESIS.	Gamete,Gametes,Germ-Line Cells,Germ Line,Cell, Germ,Cell, Germ-Line,Cells, Germ,Cells, Germ-Line,Germ Cell,Germ Line Cells,Germ Lines,Germ-Line Cell
D006657	Histones	Small chromosomal proteins (approx 12-20 kD) possessing an open, unfolded structure and attached to the DNA in cell nuclei by ionic linkages. Classification into the various types (designated histone I, histone II, etc.) is based on the relative amounts of arginine and lysine in each.	Histone,Histone H1,Histone H1(s),Histone H2a,Histone H2b,Histone H3,Histone H3.3,Histone H4,Histone H5,Histone H7