Am J Cancer Res 2012;2(6):714-725
Original Article
DREF is involved in the steroidogenesis via regulation of
shadow gene
Joung-Sun Park, Yoon-Jeong Choi, Dang Thi Phuong Thao, Young-Shin Kim, Masamitsu Yamaguchi,
Mi-Ae Yoo
Department of Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Genetic Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan
609-735, Republic of Korea, Department of Applied Biology, Insect Biomedical Research Center, Kyoto Institute
of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; Present address: Department of Molecular and
Environmental Biotechnology, University of Science, Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Received September 25, 2012; Accepted October 21, 2012; Epub November 20, 2012; Published November 30,
2012
Abstract: The Drosophila DNA replication-related element-binding factor (dDREF) has been identified as a master
regulator of cell proliferation-related genes via its binding to the DRE sequence, 5′-TATCGATA. However, the biological
roles of DREF are still to be clarified. Here, we show that DREF mutant females have steroid hormone ecdysone-deficient
phenotypes, such as the loss of vitellogenic egg chambers. Furthermore, DREF knockdown in the prothoracic
gland of larva prevented pupation and this was rescued via 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment. We found a DRE-like
sequence (-625 to -632) in the 5′-flanking region of the Drosophila shadow gene, which catalyzes the conversion of
2-deoxyecdysone to ecdysone, and demonstrated that shadow is a novel target gene of dDREF using quantitative
RT-PCR and Chip assays. In addition, we show that the level of dDREF protein correlated with age-related changes in
the level of shadow mRNA in the ovaries of wild-type flies. Taken together, our data indicate that dDREF plays a key
role in steroid synthesis via regulation of the shadow gene. (ajcr0000148).
Keywords: Drosophila, DRE, DREF, transcriptional regulation, ecdysone, shadow, steroidogenesis
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Mi-Ae Yoo
Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
Tel: +82-51-510-2278; Fax: +82-51-513-9258
E-mail: mayoo@pusan.ac.kr
Dr. Joung-Sun Park
Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
Tel: +82-51-510-3362; Fax: +82-51-513-9258
E-mail: dreamjs78@pusan.ac.kr
Original Article
DREF is involved in the steroidogenesis via regulation of
shadow gene
Joung-Sun Park, Yoon-Jeong Choi, Dang Thi Phuong Thao, Young-Shin Kim, Masamitsu Yamaguchi,
Mi-Ae Yoo
Department of Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Genetic Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan
609-735, Republic of Korea, Department of Applied Biology, Insect Biomedical Research Center, Kyoto Institute
of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; Present address: Department of Molecular and
Environmental Biotechnology, University of Science, Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Received September 25, 2012; Accepted October 21, 2012; Epub November 20, 2012; Published November 30,
2012
Abstract: The Drosophila DNA replication-related element-binding factor (dDREF) has been identified as a master
regulator of cell proliferation-related genes via its binding to the DRE sequence, 5′-TATCGATA. However, the biological
roles of DREF are still to be clarified. Here, we show that DREF mutant females have steroid hormone ecdysone-deficient
phenotypes, such as the loss of vitellogenic egg chambers. Furthermore, DREF knockdown in the prothoracic
gland of larva prevented pupation and this was rescued via 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment. We found a DRE-like
sequence (-625 to -632) in the 5′-flanking region of the Drosophila shadow gene, which catalyzes the conversion of
2-deoxyecdysone to ecdysone, and demonstrated that shadow is a novel target gene of dDREF using quantitative
RT-PCR and Chip assays. In addition, we show that the level of dDREF protein correlated with age-related changes in
the level of shadow mRNA in the ovaries of wild-type flies. Taken together, our data indicate that dDREF plays a key
role in steroid synthesis via regulation of the shadow gene. (ajcr0000148).
Keywords: Drosophila, DRE, DREF, transcriptional regulation, ecdysone, shadow, steroidogenesis
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Mi-Ae Yoo
Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
Tel: +82-51-510-2278; Fax: +82-51-513-9258
E-mail: mayoo@pusan.ac.kr
Dr. Joung-Sun Park
Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
Tel: +82-51-510-3362; Fax: +82-51-513-9258
E-mail: dreamjs78@pusan.ac.kr
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American Journal of Cancer Research
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