Project description:Post-transcriptional control of mRNAs by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) has a prominent role in the regulation of gene expression. RBPs interact with mRNAs to control their biogenesis, splicing, transport, localization, translation, and stability. Defects in such regulation can lead to a wide range of human diseases from neurological disorders to cancer. Many RBPs are conserved between Caenorhabditis elegans and humans, and several are known to regulate apoptosis in the adult C. elegans germ line. How these RBPs control apoptosis is, however, largely unknown. Here, we identify mina-1(C41G7.3) in a RNA interference-based screen as a novel regulator of apoptosis, which is exclusively expressed in the adult germ line. The absence of MINA-1 causes a dramatic increase in germ cell apoptosis, a reduction in brood size, and an impaired P granules organization and structure. In vivo crosslinking immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that MINA-1 binds a set of mRNAs coding for RBPs associated with germ cell development. Additionally, a system-wide analysis of a mina-1 deletion mutant compared to wild type, including quantitative proteome and transcriptome data, hints to a post-transcriptional regulatory RBP network driven by MINA-1 during germ cell development in C. elegans. In particular, we found that the germline-specific Argonaute WAGO-4 protein levels are increased in the mina-1 mutant background. Phenotypic analysis of double mutant mina-1;wago-4 revealed that contemporary loss of MINA-1 and WAGO-4 strongly rescues the phenotypes observed in the mina-1 mutant background. To strengthen this functional interaction, we found that upregulation of WAGO-4 in mina-1 mutant animals causes hypersensitivity to exogenous RNAi. Our comprehensive experimental approach allowed us to describe a phenocritical interaction between two RBPs controlling germ cell apoptosis and exogenous RNAi. These findings broaden our understanding of how RBPs can orchestrate different cellular events such as differentiation and death in C. elegans.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of adult C.elegans exposed to E.coli or to GFP-expressing P. aeruginosa (strain PA14). For P. aeruginosa exposure, worms were separated into 2 groups - fully colonized (green) or non-colonized (dark).
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of adult C.elegans exposed to E.coli or to GFP-expressing P. aeruginosa (strain PA14). For P. aeruginosa exposure, worms were separated into 2 groups - fully colonized (green) or non-colonized (dark). Three conditions (E.coli, P. aeurginosa colonized, and P. aeurginosa non-colonized). 2-color arrrays, each sample co-hybridized with the same reference RNA sample from mixed stage C.elegans cultures Each condition includes 3 biological replicates - 2 using the wormsorter (WS) to separate colonized from non-colonized and one hand picked (HP) under a fluorescent stereoscope
Project description:The effect of microgravity on gene expression in C.elegans was comprehensively analysed by DNA microarray. This is the first DNA microarray analysis for C.elegans grown under microgravity. Hyper gravity and clinorotation experiments were performed as reference against the flight experiment.
Project description:Attempt to identify small non-coding RNAs that change in levels as a result of viral infection of C.elegans Small non-coding RNA (18-30nt) was extracted from animals either infected with Orsay virus or uninfected as indicated.
Project description:Analysis of the transcriptional response to viral infection in C.elegans. Comparison of infected and uninfected animals for three strains: N2 (resistant), JU1580 (sensitive), RDE-1 (sensitive)