Endo-siRNAs in C. elegans spermatogenesis and their requirement for the RdRP RRF-3

ABSTRACT: Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are a class of regulatory effectors that enforce gene silencing though formation of RNA duplexes. While progress has been made in identifying the capabilities of siRNAs in silencing of foreign RNA and transposable elements, siRNA functions in endogenous gene regulation have remained mysterious. In certain organisms, siRNA biosynthesis involves novel enzymes that act as RNA-directed RNA polymerases (RdRPs). Here we analyze the function of a C. elegans RdRP, RRF-3, during spermatogenesis. We found that loss of RRF-3 function resulted in pleiotropic defects in sperm development, and that sperm defects led to embryonic lethality. Notably, sperm nuclei in mutants of either rrf-3 or another component of the siRNA pathway, eri-1, were frequently surrounded by ectop

ORGANISM(S): Caenorhabditis elegans

SUBMITTER: Sam Gu 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-18429 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress