Myc plays an important role in Drosophila P-M hybrid dysgenesis to eliminate germline cells with genetic damage

Commun Biol. 2020 Apr 22;3(1):185. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-0923-3.

Abstract

Genetic damage in the germline induced by P-element mobilization causes a syndrome known as P-M hybrid dysgenesis (HD), which manifests as elevated mutation frequency and loss of germline cells. In this study, we found that Myc plays an important role in eliminating germline cells in the context of HD. P-element mobilization resulted in downregulation of Myc expression in the germline. Myc knockdown caused germline elimination; conversely, Myc overexpression rescued the germline loss caused by P-element mobilization. Moreover, restoration of fertility by Myc resulted in the production of gametes with elevated mutation frequency and reduced ability to undergo development. Our results demonstrate that Myc downregulation mediates elimination of germline cells with accumulated genetic damage, and that failure to remove these cells results in increased production of aberrant gametes. Therefore, we propose that elimination of germline cells mediated by Myc downregulation is a quality control mechanism that maintains the genomic integrity of the germline.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Apoptosis*
  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fertility / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genotype
  • Germ Cells / metabolism*
  • Germ Cells / pathology
  • Germ-Line Mutation*
  • Male
  • Mutation Rate
  • Phenotype
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Myc protein, Drosophila
  • Transcription Factors