Membrane-associated cytoplasmic granules carrying the Argonaute protein WAGO-3 enable paternal epigenetic inheritance in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic inheritance describes the transmission of gene regulatory information across generations without altering DNA sequences, enabling offspring to adapt to environmental conditions. Small RNAs have been implicated in this, through both the oocyte and the sperm. However, as much of the cellular content is extruded during spermatogenesis, it is unclear whether cytoplasmic small RNAs can contribute to epigenetic inheritance through sperm. Here we identify a sperm-specific germ granule, termed the paternal epigenetic inheritance (PEI) granule, that mediates paternal epigenetic inheritance by retaining the cytoplasmic Argonaute protein WAGO-3 during spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identify the PEI granule proteins PEI-1 and PEI-2, which have distinct functions in this proce

SUBMITTER: Schreier J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9973253 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature