The bantam microRNA is associated with drosophila fragile X mental retardation protein and regulates the fate of germline stem cells

PLoS Genet. 2009 Apr;5(4):e1000444. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000444. Epub 2009 Apr 3.

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome, a common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). We have previously demonstrated that dFmr1, the Drosophila ortholog of the fragile X mental retardation 1 gene, plays a role in the proper maintenance of germline stem cells in Drosophila ovary; however, the molecular mechanism behind this remains elusive. In this study, we used an immunoprecipitation assay to reveal that specific microRNAs (miRNAs), particularly the bantam miRNA (bantam), are physically associated with dFmrp in ovary. We show that, like dFmr1, bantam is not only required for repressing primordial germ cell differentiation, it also functions as an extrinsic factor for germline stem cell maintenance. Furthermore, we find that bantam genetically interacts with dFmr1 to regulate the fate of germline stem cells. Collectively, our results support the notion that the FMRP-mediated translation pathway functions through specific miRNAs to control stem cell regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Drosophila / cytology
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism*
  • Fragile X Syndrome / genetics
  • Fragile X Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Germ Cells / cytology*
  • Germ Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Ovary / cytology
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • FMR1 protein, Drosophila
  • MicroRNAs
  • bantam microRNA, Drosophila
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein