[Influence of hairpin RNA, specific to the gene lawc, on expression of overlapping genes of the lawc/Trf2 complex in D. melanogaster]

Abstract

We used a genetic system of the gene complex leg-arista-wing complex/TBP related factor 2 (lawc/Trf2) as a suitable model for in vivo study of operational characteristics of divergent overlapping genes. We established lines of transgenic fruit flies carrying constructs capable of expressing hairpin RNA directed at post-transcriptional suppression of the mRNA gene lawc by way of RNA-interference. The attempt to artificially suppress lawc-transcripts caused a rise in the level of expression of the gene lawc by several times. It is shown that change in the concentration of lawc-transcripts can affect the concentration of Trf2 transcripts. Possible mechanisms of regulation of expression of the overlapping genes studied are discussed.