Comparison of Two In vivo Models for Evaluation of B52 Function

Abstract

B52/SRp55 is a Drosophila pre-mRNA splicing factor that affects the splicing of some genes in animals. A B52 deficiency in fruit flies is lethal at the larval stage, which indicates the essential and non-redundant functions of B52 in vivo. The genome-wide gene expression profile of B52 null mutant embryos using DNA microarray was previously analyzed to determine the molecular basis for the requirement B52 in normal fly development. In this study, the genes whose expression is altered by B52 were examined by analyzing the expression of several genes in two in vivo animal models, anti-B52 aptamer-expressed fly and B52 null mutant fly. The results confirmed that the Osiris genes are genuine B52-dependent genes. Overall, an inhibitory aptamer-expressed animal is a useful alternative knockout animal model for evaluating B52 loss-of-function.