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An alternative D. melanogaster 7SK snRNP

An alternative D. melanogaster 7SK snRNP

1 Dec 2021BMC Molecular and Cell Biology

Authors

Duy Nguyen, Nicolas Buisine, Olivier Fayol, Annemieke A. Michels, Olivier Bensaude, David H. Price, Patricia Uguen

Abstract

Background

The 7SK small nuclear RNA (snRNA) found in most metazoans is a key regulator of P-TEFb which in turn regulates RNA polymerase II elongation. Although its primary sequence varies in protostomes, its secondary structure and function are conserved across evolutionary distant taxa.

Results

Here, we describe a novel ncRNA sharing many features characteristic of 7SK RNAs, in D. melanogaster. We examined the structure of the corresponding gene and determined the expression profiles of the encoded RNA, called snRNA:7SK:94F, during development. It is probably produced from the transcription of a lncRNA which is processed into a mature snRNA. We also addressed its biological function and we show that, like dm7SK, this alternative 7SK interacts in vivo with the different partners of the P-TEFb complex, i.e. HEXIM, LARP7 and Cyclin T. This novel RNA is widely expressed across tissues.

Conclusion

We propose that two distinct 7SK genes might contribute to the formation of the 7SK snRNP complex in D. melanogaster.

Members

PATRICIA UGUEN

Médecin Université Paris Saclay