LIA5 is required for nuclear reorganization and programmed DNA rearrangements occurring during tetrahymena macronuclear differentiation.

ABSTRACT: During macronuclear differentiation of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, genome-wide DNA rearrangements eliminate nearly 50 Mbp of germline derived DNA, creating a streamlined somatic genome. The transposon-like and other repetitive sequences to be eliminated are identified using a piRNA pathway and packaged as heterochromatin prior to their removal. In this study, we show that LIA5, which encodes a zinc-finger protein likely of transposon origin, is required for both chromosome fragmentation and DNA elimination events. Lia5p acts after the establishment of RNAi-directed heterochromatin modifications, but prior to the excision of the modified sequences. In ∆LIA5 cells, DNA elimination foci, large nuclear sub-structures containing the sequences to be eliminated and the essential chromodo

SUBMITTER: Shieh AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3775806 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature