The Integrity of piRNA Clusters is Abolished by Insulators in the Drosophila Germline
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
PROVIDER: PRJNA515474 | ENA |
REPOSITORIES: ENA
Dataset's files
| Action | DRS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRR8447880.fastq.gz | Fastqsanger.gz | |||
| SRR8447881.fastq.gz | Fastqsanger.gz | |||
| SRR8447882.fastq.gz | Fastqsanger.gz | |||
| SRR8447877.fastq.gz | Fastqsanger.gz | |||
| SRR8447878.fastq.gz | Fastqsanger.gz |
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Project description:Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) control transposable element (TE) activity in the germline. piRNAs are produced from single-stranded precursors transcribed from distinct genomic loci, enriched by TE fragments and termed piRNA clusters. The specific chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation of Drosophila germline-specific piRNA clusters ensure transcription and processing of piRNA precursors. TEs harbour various regulatory elements that could affect piRNA cluster integrity. One of such elements is the suppressor-of-hairy-wing (Su(Hw))-mediated insulator, which is harboured in the retrotransposon gypsy. To understand how insulators contribute to piRNA cluster activity, we studied the effects of transgenes containing gypsy insulators on local organization of endogenous piRNA clusters. We show that transgene insertions interfere with piRNA precursor transcription, small RNA production and the formation of piRNA cluster-specific chromatin, a hallmark of which is Rhino, the germline homolog of the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). The mutations of Su(Hw) restored the integrity of piRNA clusters in transgenic strains. Surprisingly, Su(Hw) depletion enhanced the production of piRNAs by the domesticated telomeric retrotransposon TART, indicating that Su(Hw)-dependent elements protect TART transcripts from piRNA processing machinery in telomeres. A genome-wide analysis revealed that Su(Hw)-binding sites are depleted in endogenous germline piRNA clusters, suggesting that their functional integrity is under strict evolutionary constraints.
2019-03-15 | GSE125173 | GEO
Project description:Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) control transposable element (TE) activity in the germline. piRNAs are produced from single-stranded precursors transcribed from distinct genomic loci, enriched by TE fragments and termed piRNA clusters. The specific chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation of Drosophila germline-specific piRNA clusters ensure transcription and processing of piRNA precursors. TEs harbour various regulatory elements that could affect piRNA cluster integrity. One of such elements is the suppressor-of-hairy-wing (Su(Hw))-mediated insulator, which is harboured in the retrotransposon gypsy. To understand how insulators contribute to piRNA cluster activity, we studied the effects of transgenes containing gypsy insulators on local organization of endogenous piRNA clusters. We show that transgene insertions interfere with piRNA precursor transcription, small RNA production and the formation of piRNA cluster-specific chromatin, a hallmark of which is Rhino, the germline homolog of the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). The mutations of Su(Hw) restored the integrity of piRNA clusters in transgenic strains. Surprisingly, Su(Hw) depletion enhanced the production of piRNAs by the domesticated telomeric retrotransposon TART, indicating that Su(Hw)-dependent elements protect TART transcripts from piRNA processing machinery in telomeres. A genome-wide analysis revealed that Su(Hw)-binding sites are depleted in endogenous germline piRNA clusters, suggesting that their functional integrity is under strict evolutionary constraints.
| S-EPMC6471301 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In all three domains of life, genes with related functions can be enriched in specific genomic regions, known as the gene clusters. In eukaryotes, histone, piRNA, and rDNA (ribosomal DNA) clusters are among the most notable clusters which play fundamental roles in chromatin formation, genome integrity, and translation, respectively. These clusters have traditionally been thought to be regulated by distinct transcriptional mechanisms. In this study, using C. elegans as a model system we identify ATTF-6, a member of the AT-hook family, as a key factor for the expression of histone, piRNA, and 5S rDNA-SL1 (spliced leader 1) clusters. ATTF-6 forms distinct nuclear foci at both piRNA and 5S rDNA-SL1 clusters. Loss of ATTF-6 leads to a depletion of histone mRNAs and SL1 transcripts. Additionally, we demonstrate that ATTF-6 is required for the recruitment of USTC (Upstream Sequence Transcription Complex) at piRNA clusters, which is necessary for piRNA production. Collectively, our findings underscore the essential role of an AT-hook transcription factor in promoting the expression of fundamental gene clusters.
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Project description:PIWI proteins and their guiding Piwi-interacting small RNAs (piRNAs) are crucial for fertility and transposon defense in the animal germline. In most species, the majority of piRNAs are produced from distinct large genomic loci, called piRNA clusters. It is assumed that germline-expressed piRNA clusters, particularly in Drosophila, act as master regulators to control the activity of transposons dispersed across the genome. Here, using synteny analysis, we show that large germline clusters are evolutionarily labile, arise at loci characterized by recurrent chromosomal rearrangements, and are mostly species-specific across the Drosophila genus. By engineering chromosomal deletions in D. melanogaster, we demonstrate that the three largest germline clusters, which the generation of >40% of all transposon-targeting piRNAs depend on, are neither required for fertility nor for the regulation of transposon activity in trans. We provide further evidence that dispersed active elements, rather than the regulatory action of large Drosophila germline clusters in trans, may be central for transposon defense.
2021-05-31 | GSE174561 | GEO
Project description:In all three domains of life, genes with related functions can be organized into specific genomic regions known as gene clusters. In eukaryotes, histone, piRNA, and rDNA (ribosomal DNA) clusters are among the most notable clusters which play fundamental roles in chromatin formation, genome integrity, and translation, respectively. These clusters have long been thought to be regulated by distinct transcriptional mechanisms. In this study, using C. elegans as a model system we identify ATTF-6, a member of the AT-hook family, as a key factor for the expression of histone, piRNA, and 5S rDNA-SL1 (spliced leader 1) clusters. ATTF-6 forms distinct nuclear foci at both piRNA and 5S rDNA-SL1 clusters. Loss of ATTF-6 leads to a depletion of histone mRNAs and SL1 transcripts. Additionally, we demonstrate that ATTF-6 is required for the recruitment of USTC (Upstream Sequence Transcription Complex) to piRNA clusters, which is necessary for piRNA production. Collectively, our findings reveal a unifying role for an AT-hook transcription factor in promoting the expression of fundamental gene clusters.
2025-01-28 | GSE277643 | GEO
Project description:In all three domains of life, genes with related functions can be organized into specific genomic regions known as gene clusters. In eukaryotes, histone, piRNA, and rDNA (ribosomal DNA) clusters are among the most notable clusters which play fundamental roles in chromatin formation, genome integrity, and translation, respectively. These clusters have long been thought to be regulated by distinct transcriptional mechanisms. In this study, using C. elegans as a model system we identify ATTF-6, a member of the AT-hook family, as a key factor for the expression of histone, piRNA, and 5S rDNA-SL1 (spliced leader 1) clusters. ATTF-6 forms distinct nuclear foci at both piRNA and 5S rDNA-SL1 clusters. Loss of ATTF-6 leads to a depletion of histone mRNAs and SL1 transcripts. Additionally, we demonstrate that ATTF-6 is required for the recruitment of USTC (Upstream Sequence Transcription Complex) to piRNA clusters, which is necessary for piRNA production. Collectively, our findings reveal a unifying role for an AT-hook transcription factor in promoting the expression of fundamental gene clusters.
2025-01-28 | GSE277642 | GEO
Project description:In all three domains of life, genes with related functions can be organized into specific genomic regions known as gene clusters. In eukaryotes, histone, piRNA, and rDNA (ribosomal DNA) clusters are among the most notable clusters which play fundamental roles in chromatin formation, genome integrity, and translation, respectively. These clusters have long been thought to be regulated by distinct transcriptional mechanisms. In this study, using C. elegans as a model system we identify ATTF-6, a member of the AT-hook family, as a key factor for the expression of histone, piRNA, and 5S rDNA-SL1 (spliced leader 1) clusters. ATTF-6 forms distinct nuclear foci at both piRNA and 5S rDNA-SL1 clusters. Loss of ATTF-6 leads to a depletion of histone mRNAs and SL1 transcripts. Additionally, we demonstrate that ATTF-6 is required for the recruitment of USTC (Upstream Sequence Transcription Complex) to piRNA clusters, which is necessary for piRNA production. Collectively, our findings reveal a unifying role for an AT-hook transcription factor in promoting the expression of fundamental gene clusters.
2025-01-28 | GSE277641 | GEO
Project description:The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is an important mechanism to suppress transposon activation in the germline that is highly conserved between Drosophila and mammals. This pathway starts from transcribing piRNA clusters to generate long piRNA precursors. The majority of piRNA clusters lacks a conventional promoter, and therefore their transcription is considered to utilize a noncanonical mechanism. However, information regarding transcriptional regulation of piRNA clusters is limited. Here, we report that the fly KAT6 acetyltransferase, Enok, is important for transposon silencing in the germline. Further small RNA-seq analysis revealed that Enok is critical for piRNA production from a specific subset of piRNA clusters including 42AB, one of the two major sources of piRNAs. Enok is the major enzyme for establishing the H3K23ac mark, and was shown to promote gene expression by acetylating H3K23. Surprisingly, our RNA-seq and ChIP-seq/ChIP-qPCR results suggest that Enok regulates expression of genes involved in the piRNA production by H3K23ac-dependent mechanisms, and also promotes transcription at piRNA clusters through H3K23ac-independent pathways. Our co-immunoprecipitation assay further suggests that Enok interacts with RNA polymerase II to facilitate transcription of piRNA clusters. Taken together, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of noncanonical transcription at piRNA clusters and transposon silencing.
2021-01-07 | GSE105099 | GEO
Project description:The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is an important mechanism to suppress transposon activation in the germline that is highly conserved between Drosophila and mammals. This pathway starts from transcribing piRNA clusters to generate long piRNA precursors. The majority of piRNA clusters lacks a conventional promoter, and therefore their transcription is considered to utilize a noncanonical mechanism. However, information regarding transcriptional regulation of piRNA clusters is limited. Here, we report that the fly KAT6 acetyltransferase, Enok, is important for transposon silencing in the germline. Further small RNA-seq analysis revealed that Enok is critical for piRNA production from a specific subset of piRNA clusters including 42AB, one of the two major sources of piRNAs. Enok is the major enzyme for establishing the H3K23ac mark, and was shown to promote gene expression by acetylating H3K23. Surprisingly, our RNA-seq and ChIP-seq/ChIP-qPCR results suggest that Enok regulates expression of genes involved in the piRNA production by H3K23ac-dependent mechanisms, and also promotes transcription at piRNA clusters through H3K23ac-independent pathways. Our co-immunoprecipitation assay further suggests that Enok interacts with RNA polymerase II to facilitate transcription of piRNA clusters. Taken together, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of noncanonical transcription at piRNA clusters and transposon silencing.
2021-01-07 | GSE105025 | GEO
Project description:The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is an important mechanism to suppress transposon activation in the germline that is highly conserved between Drosophila and mammals. This pathway starts from transcribing piRNA clusters to generate long piRNA precursors. The majority of piRNA clusters lacks a conventional promoter, and therefore their transcription is considered to utilize a noncanonical mechanism. However, information regarding transcriptional regulation of piRNA clusters is limited. Here, we report that the fly KAT6 acetyltransferase, Enok, is important for transposon silencing in the germline. Further small RNA-seq analysis revealed that Enok is critical for piRNA production from a specific subset of piRNA clusters including 42AB, one of the two major sources of piRNAs. Enok is the major enzyme for establishing the H3K23ac mark, and was shown to promote gene expression by acetylating H3K23. Surprisingly, our RNA-seq and ChIP-seq/ChIP-qPCR results suggest that Enok regulates expression of genes involved in the piRNA production by H3K23ac-dependent mechanisms, and also promotes transcription at piRNA clusters through H3K23ac-independent pathways. Our co-immunoprecipitation assay further suggests that Enok interacts with RNA polymerase II to facilitate transcription of piRNA clusters. Taken together, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of noncanonical transcription at piRNA clusters and transposon silencing.
2021-01-07 | GSE133847 | GEO