GTSF1 is required for transposon silencing in the unicellular eukaryote Paramecium tetraurelia.

ABSTRACT: The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is crucial for transposon repression and the maintenance of genomic integrity. Gametocyte-specific factor 1 (GTSF1), a PIWI-associated protein indispensable for transposon repression, has been recently shown to potentiate the catalytic activity of PIWI in many metazoans. Whether the requirement of GTSF1 extends to PIWI proteins beyond metazoans is unknown. In this study, we identified a homolog of GTSF1 in the unicellular eukaryote Paramecium tetraurelia (PtGtsf1) and found that its role as a PIWI-cofactor is conserved. PtGtsf1 interacts with PIWI (Ptiwi09) and Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 and is essential for PIWI-dependent DNA elimination of transposons during sexual development. PtGtsf1 is crucial for the degradation of PIWI-bound small RNAs tha

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11602119 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature