Caenorhabditis elegans
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PROVIDER: PRJNA214176 | ENA |
REPOSITORIES: ENA
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Project description:Germline small RNA pathways initiate silencing of repetitive elements in animals and an interplay of nuclear small RNAs and chromatin modifications maintain this silencing, protecting the germline from spreading of transposable elements. In C. elegans germline, nuclear argonaute protein HRDE-1 initiates the transcriptional silencing pathway that is crucial for long term and heritable silencing of genes and repetitive regions. Here, we show that HRDE-1 interacts with components of the splicing machinery and the exon-junction complex. One such factor is the conserved RNA helicase EMB-4/AQR that binds introns and recruits the exon-junction proteins to newly spliced RNA. Our data shows that EMB-4/AQR is required for the transcriptional silencing pathway initiated by HRDE-1 and it functions by removing the intronic barriers to silencing thorugh its helicase function.
2017-06-30 | PXD004416 | Pride
Project description:CSR-1 is an essential Argonaute protein that binds to a subclass of 22G-RNAs targeting most germline-expressed genes. Here we show that the two isoforms of CSR-1 have distinct expression patterns; CSR-1B is ubiquitously expressed throughout the germline and during all stages of development while CSR-1A expression is restricted to germ cells undergoing spermatogenesis. Furthermore, CSR-1A associates preferentially with 22G-RNAs mapping to spermatogenesis-specific genes whereas CSR-1B-bound small RNAs map predominantly to oogenesis-specific genes. Interestingly, the exon unique to CSR-1A contains multiple dimethylarginine modifications, which are necessary for the preferential binding of CSR-1A to spermatogenesis-specific 22G-RNAs. Thus, we have discovered a regulatory mechanism for C. elegans Argonaute proteins that allows for specificity of small RNA binding between similar Argonaute proteins with overlapping temporal and spatial localization.
2021-06-17 | PXD021227 | Pride
Project description:RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved gene silencing process that exists in diverse organisms to protect genome integrity and regulate gene expression. In C. elegans, the majority of RNAi pathway proteins localize to perinuclear, phase-separated germ granules, which are comprised of sub-domains referred to as P granules, Mutator foci, Z granules, and SIMR foci. However, the protein components and function of the newly discovered SIMR foci are unknown. Here we demonstrate that HRDE-2 localizes to SIMR foci and interacts with the germline nuclear RNAi Argonaute HRDE-1. Furthermore, HRDE-1 also localizes to SIMR foci, dependent on HRDE-2, but only in its small RNA unbound state. This germ granule localization is critical to promote the small RNA binding specificity of HRDE-1 and, in the absence of HRDE-2, HRDE-1 exclusively loads CSR-class 22G-RNAs rather than WAGO-class 22G-RNAs, resulting in H3K9me3 deposition on CSR-target genes. Thus, our study demonstrates that HRDE-2 is critical to ensure that the correct small RNAs are used to guide nuclear RNA silencing in the C. elegans germline.
2023-07-27 | MSV000092546 | MassIVE
Project description:Epigenetic inheritance is the transmission of information independently of the nucleotide sequence of the genome. A fundamental question in biology is to what extent does epigenetics contribute to trans-generational inheritance. Here we investigate the role of Argonaute-small-RNA pathways in epigenetic inheritance in the nematode C. elegans. Argonautes present their guide RNAs for base-pairing with target sequences and, upon binding, can cleave the target RNA and/or recruit cofactors that mediate post-transcriptional or transcriptional silencing 1,2. Previous studies have shown that Argonaute small-RNA pathways reinforce and maintain epigenetic silencing in C. elegans 3-5. For example, the conserved PIWI-related Argonaute PRG-1 initiates a remarkably stable mode of epigenetic silencing, termed RNA-induced epigenetic silencing (RNAe) 3. Alleles that are silenced by RNAe send trans-acting Argonaute-small-RNA signals that can act in a sequence-specific manner to induce the permanent Epigenetic inheritance is the transmission of information independently of the nucleotide sequence of the genome. A fundamental question in biology is to what extent does epigenetics contribute to trans-generational inheritance. Here we investigate the role of Argonaute-small-RNA pathways in epigenetic inheritance in the nematode C. elegans. Argonautes present their guide RNAs for base-pairing with target sequences and, upon binding, can cleave the target RNA and/or recruit cofactors that mediate post-transcriptional or transcriptional silencing 1,2. Previous studies have shown that Argonaute small-RNA pathways reinforce and maintain epigenetic silencing in C. elegans 3-5. For example, the conserved PIWI-related Argonaute PRG-1 initiates a remarkably stable mode of epigenetic silencing, termed RNA-induced epigenetic silencing (RNAe) 3. Alleles that are silenced by RNAe send trans-acting Argonaute-small-RNA signals that can act in a sequence-specific manner to induce the permanent silencing of homologous genes 3. Here we explore an opposite phenomenon, RNA-induced gene activation (RNAa), in which an expressed gene provides a sequence-specific signal that can activate a silent homologous gene. We provide evidence that the CSR-1 Argonaute is required for this trans-activating signal. CSR-1 engages antisense small RNAs complementary to most, if not all, germline-expressed mRNAs 6,7. Moreover, we show that the ability of a foreign sequence to mediate RNAa is correlated with acquisition of CSR-1-associated small RNAs targeting the foreign sequence. Thus CSR-1 small RNAs constitute a memory of previous germline-gene expression that protects endogenous genes from epigenetic silencing. These findings reveal a remarkably sophisticated epigenetic surveillance mechanism that monitors the flow of transgenerational information ensuring that progeny express only those genes also expressed in their parents. Examine small RNA population changes in different transgene lines
2013-12-23 | E-GEOD-49532 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Organisms can develop adaptive sequence-specific immunity by reexpressing pathogen-specific small RNAs that guide gene silencing. For example, the C. elegans PIWI-Argonaute/piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway recruits RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) to foreign sequences to amplify a transgenerational small-RNA-induced epigenetic silencing signal (termed RNAe). Here, we provide evidence that, in addition to an adaptive memory of silenced sequences, C. elegans can also develop an opposing adaptive memory of expressed/self-mRNAs. We refer to this mechanism, which can prevent or reverse RNAe, as RNA-induced epigenetic gene activation (RNAa). We show that CSR-1, which engages RdRP-amplified small RNAs complementary to germline-expressed mRNAs, is required for RNAa. We show that a transgene with RNAa activity also exhibits accumulation of cognate CSR-1 small RNAs. Our findings suggest that C. elegans adaptively acquires and maintains a transgenerational CSR-1 memory that recognizes and protects self-mRNAs, allowing piRNAs to recognize foreign sequences innately, without the need for prior exposure.
2013-12-23 | GSE49532 | GEO
Project description:In the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, thousands of mRNAs are concomitantly expressed with antisense 22G-RNAs, which are loaded into the Argonaute CSR-1. Despite their essential functions for animal fertility and embryonic development, how CSR-1 22G-RNAs are produced remains unknown. Here, we show that CSR-1 slicer activity is primarily involved in triggering the synthesis of small RNAs on the coding sequences of germline mRNAs and post-transcriptionally regulates a fraction of targets. CSR-1-cleaved mRNAs prime the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, EGO-1, to synthesize 22G-RNAs in phase with ribosome translation in the cytoplasm, in contrast to other 22G-RNAs mostly synthesized in germ granules. Moreover, codon optimality and efficient translation antagonize CSR-1 slicing and 22G-RNAs biogenesis. We propose that codon usage differences encoded into mRNA sequences might be a conserved strategy in eukaryotes to regulate small RNA biogenesis and Argonaute targeting
2021-04-23 | PXD020293 | Pride
Project description:The Piwi-piRNA pathway represents a germline specific transposon-defense system. C. elegans Piwi, prg-1, is a non-essential gene and triggers a secondary RNAi response that depends on so-called mutator genes, endo-siRNAs (22G-RNAs) and at least one 22G-RNA-binding Argonaute protein, HRDE-1. Interestingly, through a poorly understood mechanism, silencing of PRG-1 targets can become PRG-1 independent. This state, also known as RNAe, is heritable and depends on mutator genes and HRDE-1. We studied how the transgenerational memory of RNAe and the piRNA pathway interact. We find that maternally provided PRG-1 is required for the de-novo establishment of 22G-RNA populations, especially those targeting transposons. Strikingly, attempts to re-establish 22G-RNAs in absence of both PRG-1 and RNAe memory result in severe germline proliferation defects. This is accompanied by a disturbed balance between gene-activating and -repressing 22G-RNA pathways. We propose a model in which CSR-1 prevents the loading of HRDE-1 and that both PRG-1 and HRDE-1 help to keep mutator activity focused on the proper targets.
2015-08-13 | GSE68988 | GEO
Project description:High-throughput pyrosequencing of endogenous small RNAs from CSR-1 IP complexes and csr-1(tm892) and ego-1(om97) mutants with corresponding controls. RNAi-related pathways regulate diverse processes, from developmental timing to transposon silencing. Here, we show that in C. elegans the Argonaute CSR-1, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase EGO-1, the Dicer-related helicase DRH-3, and the Tudor-domain protein EKL-1 localize to chromosomes and are required for proper chromosome segregation. In the absence of these factors chromosomes fail to align at the metaphase plate and kinetochores do not orient to opposing spindle poles. Surprisingly, the CSR-1 interacting small RNAs (22G-RNAs) are antisense to thousands of germline-expressed protein-coding genes. Nematodes assemble holocentric chromosomes in which continuous kinetochores must span the expressed domains of the genome. We show that CSR-1 interacts with chromatin at target loci, but does not down-regulate target mRNA or protein levels. Instead, our findings support a model in which CSR-1 complexes target protein-coding domains to promote their proper organization within the holocentric chromosomes of C. elegans. 5 samples examined. Small RNAs that co-immunopercipitate with CSR-1 protein and input sample. Small RNAs from csr-1(tm892) and ego-1(om97) mutants and corresponding congenic wild type strain.
2009-10-02 | E-GEOD-18165 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Gene silencing mediated by dsRNA (RNAi) can persist for multiple generations in C. elegans (termed RNAi inheritance). Here we describe the results of a forward genetic screen in C. elegans that has identified six factors required for RNAi inheritance: GLH-1/VASA, PUP-1/CDE-1, MORC-1, SET-32, and two novel nematode-specific factors that we term here (heritable RNAi defective) HRDE-2 and HRDE-4. The new RNAi inheritance factors exhibit mortal germline (Mrt) phenotypes, which we show is likely caused by epigenetic deregulation in germ cells. We also show that HRDE-2 contributes to RNAi inheritance by facilitating the binding of small RNAs to the inheritance Argonaute (Ago) HRDE-1. Together, our results identify additional components of the RNAi inheritance machinery whose sequence conservation provides insights into the molecular mechanism of RNAi inheritance, further our understanding of how the RNAi inheritance machinery promotes germline immortality, and show that HRDE-2 couples the inheritance Ago HRDE-1 with the small RNAs it needs to direct RNAi inheritance and germline immortality.
2017-06-20 | GSE92840 | GEO
Project description:CSR-1 and P granules suppress sperm-specific transcription in the C. elegans germline
| PRJNA281372 | ENA