The role of heterochromatin protein 1A(HP1a) in the repression of telomeric retroelements in the drosophila female germline

Abstract

This study addressed the tissue specific function of pleotropic heterochromatin component HP1a in the Drosophila female germline, particularly to determine whether there was crosstalk with the piRNA pathway. Abolishing HP1a in the female ovarian germline led to complete sterility. A significant de-repression of the telomeric retrotransposon- HET-A, TART and TAHRE (which regulate telomere length in Drosophila), was also observed. piRNAs against the telomeric retrotransposons were severely reduced suggesting that HP1a regulates telomeres in piRNA dependent mechanism in the ovarian germline. Furthermore, we determined that HP1a occupies telomeric transposon loci and probably functions in the primary piRNA cluster transcription for the telomeric retroelements.