The genetic framework of the Drosophila piRNA pathway
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster
PROVIDER: GSE45894 | GEO | 2013/05/10
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA196613
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:The animal piRNA pathway is a small RNA silencing system that acts in gonads and protects the genome against the deleterious influence of transposons. A major bottleneck in the field is the lack of comprehensive knowledge of the factors and molecular processes that constitute this pathway. We conducted an RNAi screen in Drosophila and identified ~50 genes that strongly impact the ovarian somatic piRNA pathway. Many identified genes fall into functional categories that indicate essential roles for mitochondrial metabolism, RNA export, the nuclear pore, transcription elongation and chromatin regulation in the pathway. Follow-up studies on two factors demonstrate the identification of components acting at distinct hierarchical levels of the pathway. Finally, we define CG2183/Gasz as a novel primary piRNA biogenesis factor in somatic and germline cells. Based on the similarities between insect and vertebrate piRNA pathways our results have far-reaching implications for the understanding of this conserved genome defense system. Steady-state RNA levels in wild-type ovarian somatic cells (OSC) and RNAi knock-downs of the piRNA pathway components.
2013-05-10 | E-GEOD-45894 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:In gonadal tissues, the Piwi-interacting (piRNA) pathway preserves genomic integrity by employing 23-29nt small RNAs complexed with argonaute proteins to suppress parasitic mobile sequences of DNA called transposable elements (TEs). While recent evidence suggests that the piRNA pathway may be present in select somatic cells outside the gonads, the role of a non-gonadal somatic piRNA pathway is not well characterized. Here we report a functional somatic piRNA pathway in the adult Drosophila fat body including the presence of the piRNA effector protein Piwi and canonical 23-29nt long TE-mapping piRNAs. piwi mutants exhibit depletion of fat body piRNAs, increased TE mobilization, increased levels of DNA damage, and reduced lipid stores. These mutants are starvation-sensitive, immunologically compromised, and short-lived, all phenotypes associated with compromised fat body function. These findings demonstrate the presence of a functional non-gonadal somatic piRNA pathway in the adult fat body that impacts normal metabolism and overall organismal health.
2016-11-30 | GSE89260 | GEO
Project description:The piRNA pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile genetic elements in animal germlines. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNAs are produced from discrete genomic loci, called piRNA clusters, which are composed of inactive transposon copies and fragments and thus constitute a genetically encoded memory of past transposon challenges. Two types of piRNA clusters exist in flies: dual-strand clusters, expressed only in the germline via a highly specialised machinery, and uni-strand cluster, which are predominantly expressed in the somatic follicle cells. Flamenco (flam) is the major uni-strand piRNA cluster in Drosophila, giving rise to the majority of somatic piRNAs. Flam resembles a canonical RNA polymerase II transcriptional unit, nonetheless it can be specifically recognised by the piRNA pathway and directed to the biogenesis machinery. Recent work has implicated the RNA helicase Yb in the licensing of somatic piRNA production, however a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flam export and specification is still lacking. Here, we show that flam export triggers the assembly of peri-nuclear condensates of Yb and provide evidence that piRNA production from flam specifically requires subunits of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). In the absence of some NPC subunits, transposons become de-silenced and piRNA biogenesis is compromised exclusively from flam. We also show that Yb transiently associates with the NPC to promote flam export. Taken together, our data shed light on how the export of uni-strand cluster transcripts is achieved and suggest the evolution of a specialised machinery that couples transcription, nuclear export and piRNA production.
2021-04-15 | PXD019670 | Pride
Project description:The piRNA pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile genetic elements in animal germlines. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNAs are produced from discrete genomic loci, called piRNA clusters, which are composed of inactive transposon copies and fragments and thus constitute a genetically encoded memory of past transposon challenges. Two types of piRNA clusters exist in flies: dual-strand clusters, expressed only in the germline via a highly specialised machinery, and uni-strand cluster, which are predominantly expressed in the somatic follicle cells. Flamenco (flam) is the major uni-strand piRNA cluster in Drosophila, giving rise to the majority of somatic piRNAs. Flam resembles a canonical RNA polymerase II transcriptional unit, nonetheless it can be specifically recognised by the piRNA pathway and directed to the biogenesis machinery. Recent work has implicated the RNA helicase Yb in the licensing of somatic piRNA production, however a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flam export and specification is still lacking. Here, we show that flam export triggers the assembly of peri-nuclear condensates of Yb and provide evidence that piRNA production from flam specifically requires subunits of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). In the absence of some NPC subunits, transposons become de-silenced and piRNA biogenesis is compromised exclusively from flam. We also show that Yb transiently associates with the NPC to promote flam export. Taken together, our data shed light on how the export of uni-strand cluster transcripts is achieved and suggest the evolution of a specialised machinery that couples transcription, nuclear export and piRNA production.
2021-04-16 | PXD019671 | Pride
Project description:The piRNA pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile genetic elements in animal germlines. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNAs are produced from discrete genomic loci, called piRNA clusters, which are composed of inactive transposon copies and fragments and thus constitute a genetically encoded memory of past transposon challenges. Two types of piRNA clusters exist in flies: dual-strand clusters, expressed only in the germline via a highly specialised machinery, and uni-strand cluster, which are predominantly expressed in the somatic follicle cells. Flamenco (flam) is the major uni-strand piRNA cluster in Drosophila, giving rise to the majority of somatic piRNAs. Flam resembles a canonical RNA polymerase II transcriptional unit, nonetheless it can be specifically recognised by the piRNA pathway and directed to the biogenesis machinery. Recent work has implicated the RNA helicase Yb in the licensing of somatic piRNA production, however a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flam export and specification is still lacking. Here, we show that flam export triggers the assembly of peri-nuclear condensates of Yb and provide evidence that piRNA production from flam specifically requires subunits of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). In the absence of some NPC subunits, transposons become de-silenced and piRNA biogenesis is compromised exclusively from flam. We also show that Yb transiently associates with the NPC to promote flam export. Taken together, our data shed light on how the export of uni-strand cluster transcripts is achieved and suggest the evolution of a specialised machinery that couples transcription, nuclear export and piRNA production.
2021-07-02 | PXD019674 | Pride
Project description:A large fraction of our genome consists of mobile genetic elements. Governing transposons in germ cells is critically important, and failure to do so compromises genome integrity, leading to sterility. In animals, the piRNA pathway is the key to transposon constraint, yet the precise molecular details of how piRNAs are formed and how the pathway represses mobile elements remain poorly understood. In an effort to identify general requirements for transposon control and novel components of the piRNA pathway, we carried out a genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila ovarian somatic sheet cells. We identified and validated 87 genes necessary for transposon silencing. Among these were several novel piRNA biogenesis factors. We also found CG3893 (asterix) to be essential for transposon silencing, most likely by contributing to the effector step of transcriptional repression. Asterix loss leads to decreases in H3K9me3 marks on certain transposons but has no effect on piRNA levels. We sequenced small RNAs, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq from either tj-Gal4 driven hpRNA knockdown flies or P-element insertion flies
2013-05-09 | E-GEOD-46009 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Eukaryotic genomes are colonized by transposable elements whose uncontrolled activity results in genomic instability. The piRNA pathway silences transposons in animal gonads, yet how this is achieved molecularly remains controversial. We assign an essential role to the HMG protein Maelstrom in the process of Piwi mediated silencing in Drosophila. Genome wide assays revealed highly correlated changes in RNA Polymerase II recruitment, nascent RNA output and steady state RNA levels of transposons upon loss of Piwi or Maelstrom. Our data demonstrate piRNA-mediated trans- silencing of hundreds of transposon copies at the transcriptional level. We show that Piwi is required for establishing heterochromatic H3K9me3 marks on transposons and their genomic surrounding. In contrast, loss of Maelstrom impacts transposon H3K9me3 patterns only marginally yet leads to increased heterochromatin spreading, suggesting that Maelstrom acts downstream of or in parallel to H3K9me3. Our work uncovers the widespread influence of transposons and the piRNA pathway on chromatin patterns and gene expression programs. RNA Polymerase II and H3K9me3 occupancy, and steady-state and nascent RNA levels in wild-type ovarian somatic cells (OSC) and RNAi knock-downs of the piRNA pathway components. RNA Polymerase II occupancy in tissue-specific knockdowns of tejas (control) and armi in somatic cells of Drosophila ovary.
2012-11-26 | E-GEOD-41729 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Small RNAs of the Piwi-interacting RNA class (piRNA) play a key role in controlling the activity of transposable elements (TEs) in the animal germ line. In some arthropod species, including mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria and other pathogens, the piRNA pathway is active not only in the gonads, where it controls TE activity, but also in somatic tissues, where its targets and functions are less clear. It is thought that the piRNA pathway in somatic tissues is involved in the antiviral response and the modulation of TE activity. Here, we studied the features of small RNA production in head and thorax somatic tissues of Anopheles coluzzii focusing on the small RNAs processed from protein-coding gene mRNAs. We revealed tissue and sex specificity in the production of small RNAs derived from the genic transcripts. Genic small RNAs of 24-30 nt in length are atypical RNAs that lack the hallmarks of piRNAs. The majority of these short RNAs are derived from mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in energy metabolism. We discuss the peculiarities of the piRNA biogenesis in Anopheles species which may result in the production of genic small RNAs in the somatic tissues.
2024-01-01 | GSE251974 | GEO
Project description:A large fraction of our genome consists of mobile genetic elements. Governing transposons in germ cells is critically important, and failure to do so compromises genome integrity, leading to sterility. In animals, the piRNA pathway is the key to transposon constraint, yet the precise molecular details of how piRNAs are formed and how the pathway represses mobile elements remain poorly understood. In an effort to identify general requirements for transposon control and novel components of the piRNA pathway, we carried out a genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila ovarian somatic sheet cells. We identified and validated 87 genes necessary for transposon silencing. Among these were several novel piRNA biogenesis factors. We also found CG3893 (asterix) to be essential for transposon silencing, most likely by contributing to the effector step of transcriptional repression. Asterix loss leads to decreases in H3K9me3 marks on certain transposons but has no effect on piRNA levels.
2013-05-09 | GSE46009 | GEO
Project description:In metazoan gonads, transposable elements (TEs) mobilization is limited by PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). These small RNAs originate from specific source loci, the piRNA clusters. piRNAs are known to silence TEs in the cells where they are produced. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), a subclass of TEs, pose a particular threat because they are capable of transiting from cell to cell. In this study, we reveal that piRNAs produced locally in germ cells counteract invasion by ERVs arriving from adjacent somatic cells. We reactivated the Drosophila ERV ZAM in somatic gonadal cells by deleting, using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, its single copy in the somatic flamenco piRNA cluster, while keeping the piRNA pathway fully functional. Upon reactivation, ZAM invaded the oocytes, resulting in transposition and severe fertility defects. We show that once ZAM-piRNAs are produced in germ cells they counter the invasion. Our study sheds new light on the mechanisms of recognition and regulation of invasive genetic elements, which is essential for the maintenance of genome integrity.
2022-09-30 | GSE213456 | GEO