Characterizing the role of RSD-6 in the biogenesis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs and the modulation of viral pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) produced through the processing of viral double-stranded RNAs mediate potent antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) in eukaryotes. In Caenorhabditis elegans, such an antiviral defense is further amplified through the production of secondary siRNAs, yet the mechanisms by which secondary virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) confer protection remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize the role of rsd-6, which encodes a Tudor domain protein and plays an important role in antiviral RNAi, in vsiRNA biogenesis and the modulation of viral pathogenesis. Using CRISPR Cas9-generated rsd-6 null mutants, we show that both primary and secondary vsiRNAs accumulate normally in the absence of RSD-6, indicating that it functions downstream of secondary vsiRNA b

SUBMITTER: Dahal K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12817956 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature