Maria del Pilar Castellanos / Biology / Faculty Mentor: Esther Betran
Molecular domestication of transposable element (TE) proteins can be viewed as the process of recycling the TE selfish protein/s for cellular functions. This process is gaining attention in evolutionary biology due to increased genome sequencing and functional analyses. Here, we analyze a PIF/Harbinger family of TE proteins domesticated gene in Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila PIF-like gene 3 (DPLG3). We tagged DPLG3 with HA and observed its localization and co-localization with DNA in ovaries. Knock-out flies generated via CRISPR-Cas9 displayed abnormal gonadal phenotypes that are partial penetrant and maternally inherited, with 10-15% of females and fewer males affected. RNA-Seq analysis of non-rudimentary DPLG3-KO ovaries revealed differentially expressed genes, TEs and long non-coding RNAs suggesting a potential regulatory role for DPLG3. Our hypothesis posits that DPLG3, because of its nuclear localization, has retained its DNA binding domain and likely functions as a transcription regulator. Further studies aim to elucidate the role of this domesticated transposase in Drosophila germline development.
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