Long non-coding RNAs involved in Drosophila development and regeneration

Abstract

The discovery of functional long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) changed their initial concept as transcriptional noise. LncRNAs have been identified as regulators of multiple biological processes, including chromatin structure, gene expression, splicing, mRNA degradation, and translation. However, functional studies of lncRNAs are hindered by the usual lack of phenotypes upon deletion or inhibition. Here, we used "Drosophila" imaginal discs as a model system to identify lncRNAs involved in development and regeneration. We examined a subset of lncRNAs expressed in the wing, leg, and eye disc development. Additionally, we analyzed transcriptomic data from regenerating wing discs to profile the expression pattern of lncRNAs during tissue repair. We focused on the lncRNA "CR40469", which is upregulated during regeneration. We generated "CR40469" mutant flies that developed normally but showed impaired wing regeneration upon cell death induction. The ability of these mutants to regenerate was restored by the ectopic expression of "CR40469". Furthermore, we found that the lncRNA "CR34335" has a high degree of sequence similarity with "CR40469" and can partially compensate for its function during regeneration in the absence of "CR40469". Our findings point to a potential role of the lncRNA "CR40469" in "trans" during the response to damage in the wing imaginal disc.