A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.

Lim3 encodes an RNA polymerase II transcription factor with a key role in neuron specification. It was also identified as a candidate gene that affects lifespan. These pleiotropic effects indicate the fundamental significance of the potential interplay between neural development and lifespan control...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Olga Yu Rybina, Elena G Pasyukova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2935391?pdf=render
_version_ 1819148032041549824
author Olga Yu Rybina
Elena G Pasyukova
author_facet Olga Yu Rybina
Elena G Pasyukova
author_sort Olga Yu Rybina
collection DOAJ
description Lim3 encodes an RNA polymerase II transcription factor with a key role in neuron specification. It was also identified as a candidate gene that affects lifespan. These pleiotropic effects indicate the fundamental significance of the potential interplay between neural development and lifespan control. The goal of this study was to analyze the causal relationships between Lim3 structural variations, and gene expression and lifespan changes, and to provide insights into regulatory pathways controlling lifespan. Fifty substitution lines containing second chromosomes from a Drosophila natural population were used to analyze the association between lifespan and sequence variation in the 5'-regulatory region, and first exon and intron of Lim3A, in which we discovered multiple transcription start sites (TSS). The core and proximal promoter organization for Lim3A and a previously unknown mRNA named Lim3C were described. A haplotype of two markers in the Lim3A regulatory region was significantly associated with variation in lifespan. We propose that polymorphisms in the regulatory region affect gene transcription, and consequently lifespan. Indeed, five polymorphic markers located within 380 to 680 bp of the Lim3A major TSS, including two markers associated with lifespan variation, were significantly associated with the level of Lim3A transcript, as evaluated by real time RT-PCR in embryos, adult heads, and testes. A naturally occurring polymorphism caused a six-fold change in gene transcription and a 25% change in lifespan. Markers associated with long lifespan and intermediate Lim3A transcription were present in the population at high frequencies. We hypothesize that polymorphic markers associated with Lim3A expression are located within the binding sites for proteins that regulate gene function, and provide general rather than tissue-specific regulation of transcription, and that intermediate levels of Lim3A expression confer a selective advantage and longer lifespan.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T13:39:15Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6cd2f17d6fd142feba7218a666b0030e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T13:39:15Z
publishDate 2010-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-6cd2f17d6fd142feba7218a666b0030e2022-12-21T18:23:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032010-01-0159e1262110.1371/journal.pone.0012621A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.Olga Yu RybinaElena G PasyukovaLim3 encodes an RNA polymerase II transcription factor with a key role in neuron specification. It was also identified as a candidate gene that affects lifespan. These pleiotropic effects indicate the fundamental significance of the potential interplay between neural development and lifespan control. The goal of this study was to analyze the causal relationships between Lim3 structural variations, and gene expression and lifespan changes, and to provide insights into regulatory pathways controlling lifespan. Fifty substitution lines containing second chromosomes from a Drosophila natural population were used to analyze the association between lifespan and sequence variation in the 5'-regulatory region, and first exon and intron of Lim3A, in which we discovered multiple transcription start sites (TSS). The core and proximal promoter organization for Lim3A and a previously unknown mRNA named Lim3C were described. A haplotype of two markers in the Lim3A regulatory region was significantly associated with variation in lifespan. We propose that polymorphisms in the regulatory region affect gene transcription, and consequently lifespan. Indeed, five polymorphic markers located within 380 to 680 bp of the Lim3A major TSS, including two markers associated with lifespan variation, were significantly associated with the level of Lim3A transcript, as evaluated by real time RT-PCR in embryos, adult heads, and testes. A naturally occurring polymorphism caused a six-fold change in gene transcription and a 25% change in lifespan. Markers associated with long lifespan and intermediate Lim3A transcription were present in the population at high frequencies. We hypothesize that polymorphic markers associated with Lim3A expression are located within the binding sites for proteins that regulate gene function, and provide general rather than tissue-specific regulation of transcription, and that intermediate levels of Lim3A expression confer a selective advantage and longer lifespan.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2935391?pdf=render
spellingShingle Olga Yu Rybina
Elena G Pasyukova
A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.
PLoS ONE
title A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.
title_full A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.
title_fullStr A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.
title_full_unstemmed A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.
title_short A naturally occurring polymorphism at Drosophila melanogaster Lim3 Locus, a homolog of human LHX3/4, affects Lim3 transcription and fly lifespan.
title_sort naturally occurring polymorphism at drosophila melanogaster lim3 locus a homolog of human lhx3 4 affects lim3 transcription and fly lifespan
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2935391?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT olgayurybina anaturallyoccurringpolymorphismatdrosophilamelanogasterlim3locusahomologofhumanlhx34affectslim3transcriptionandflylifespan
AT elenagpasyukova anaturallyoccurringpolymorphismatdrosophilamelanogasterlim3locusahomologofhumanlhx34affectslim3transcriptionandflylifespan
AT olgayurybina naturallyoccurringpolymorphismatdrosophilamelanogasterlim3locusahomologofhumanlhx34affectslim3transcriptionandflylifespan
AT elenagpasyukova naturallyoccurringpolymorphismatdrosophilamelanogasterlim3locusahomologofhumanlhx34affectslim3transcriptionandflylifespan