Mammalian DNMTs in the male germ line DNA of Drosophila

• Published in: Biochemistry and cell biology Vol. 86; no. 5; pp. 380 - 385
• Main Authors: Weyrich, Alexandra, Tang, Xiaojing, Xu, Guoliang, Schrattenholz, André, Hunzinger, Christian, Hennig, Wolfgang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada NRC Research Press 01.10.2008; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Animals; Blood; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases - genetics; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases - metabolism; DNA Methylation; DNA Methyltransferase 3A; DNA Methyltransferase 3B; DNMT3; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Drosophile; Fertility; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Germ Cells - metabolism; Insects; Isoenzymes - genetics; Isoenzymes - metabolism; lignée germinale mâle; Male; male germ line; Methylation; Methyltransferases; méthylation d'ADN; Physiological aspects; Proteins; spermatogenesis; spermatogenèse; Germany
• ISSN: 0829-8211; 1208-6002
• DOI: 10.1139/O08-096

It is controversial whether DNA methylation plays a functional role in Drosophila . We have studied testis DNA of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 with antisera against 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and found no evidence for the presence of significant amounts of 5mC. Reactions occur only with 1 of 3 5mC antisera, but they are restricted to nuclear regions without detectable amounts of DNA. The antisera apparently cross-react with other nuclear components. If the murine de novo DNA methyltransferases, DNMT3A and DNMT3B, are expressed under the control of the spermatocyte-specific β2-tubulin promoter in testes, DNA methylation is not increased and no effects on the fertility of the fly are seen. DNA methylation has, therefore, no functional relevance in the male germ line of Drosophila.