Microarray analysis of Drosophila dicer-2 mutants reveals potential regulation of mitochondrial metabolism by endogenous siRNAs.

摘要: RNA interference is a eukaryotic regulatory mechanism by which small non-coding RNAs typically mediate specific silencing of their cognate genes. In Drosophila, the RNase III enzyme Dicer-2 (Dcr-2) essential for biogenesis endogenous interfering (endo-siRNAs), have been implicated in regulation protein-coding Although much known about microRNA-based networks, biological functions endo-siRNAs animals remain poorly understood. We performed gene expression profiling on Drosophila dcr-2 null mutant pupae to investigate transcriptional effects caused severe defect endo-siRNA production, and found 306 up-regulated 357 down-regulated genes with at least twofold change compared wild type. Most these were associated energy metabolism development, respectively. Importantly, mRNA sequences 39% perfectly complementary previously reported endo-siRNAs, suggesting they may be direct targets endo-siRNAs. confirmed up-regulation five selected matching concomitant down-regulation corresponding pupae. potential target metabolism, including citric acid cycle oxidative phosphorylation mitochondria, implying that are major metabolic processes directly affected Drosophila. Consistent this finding, had lower ATP content controls, indicating mitochondrial production impaired mutants. Our data support role pathway homeostasis through metabolism. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 418–427, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.