Germ granule localization of nematode Argonaute WAGO-4 ensures fidelity in small RNA loading.

ABSTRACT: Germ granules are liquid-like condensates that regulate small RNA pathways and gene expression, ensuring genome stability and fertility in animals. In C. elegans, several Argonaute proteins, central players of small RNA pathways, localize to germ granules, yet the functional significance of this spatial enrichment remains unclear. Here, we disrupted the localization of the Argonaute WAGO-4 to germ granules by introducing targeted mutations in the FG repeats of Vasa-like GLH proteins. These mutations did not disrupt overall germ granule architecture but significantly reduced WAGO-4 partitioning, leading to its predominant localization in the cytoplasm. Functional analyses revealed that this mislocalization partially compromised WAGO-4 activity, resulting in reduced WAGO-4 binding of small R

SUBMITTER: Jelenic S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12669755 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature