Argonautes promote male fertility and provide a paternal memory of germline gene expression in C. elegans

ABSTRACT: During each life cycle germ cells preserve and pass on both genetic and epigenetic information. In C. elegans, the ALG-3/4 Argonaute (AGO) proteins and their small-RNA cofactors are expressed during male gametogenesis and promote male fertility. Here we show that the CSR-1 AGO functions with ALG-3/4 to positively regulate target genes required for spermiogenesis. Our findings suggest that ALG-3/4 functions during spermatogenesis to amplify a small-RNA signal that represents an epigenetic memory of male-specific gene expression, while CSR-1, which is abundant in mature sperm, transmits this memory to offspring. Surprisingly, in addition to small RNAs targeting male-specific genes, we show that males also harbor an extensive repertoire of CSR-1 small RNAs targeting oogenesis-specific mRNAs.

ORGANISM(S): Caenorhabditis elegans

SUBMITTER: Craig Mello 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-49672 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress