Project description:Endogenous RNA-directed RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are cellular components capable of synthesizing new complementary RNAs from existing RNA templates. We present evidence for successive engagement of two different RdRPs in an endogenous siRNA-based mechanism targeting specific mRNAs in C. elegans soma. In the initiation stage of this process, a group of mRNA species are chosen as targets for downregulation, leading to accumulation of rare 26-nt 5'-phosphorylated antisense RNAs that depend on the RdRP homolog RRF-3, the argonaute ERGO-1, DICER, and a series of associated (ERI) factors. This primary process leads to production of a much more abundant class of 22-nt antisense RNAs, dependent on a secondary RdRP (RRF-1) and associating with at least one distinct Argonaute (NRDE-3). The requirement for two RdRP/Argonaute combinations and initiation by a rare class of uniquely-structured siRNAs in this pathway illustrate the caution and flexibility used as biological systems exploit the physiological copying of RNA.
Project description:Endogenous RNA-directed RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are cellular components capable of synthesizing new complementary RNAs from existing RNA templates. We present evidence for successive engagement of two different RdRPs in an endogenous siRNA-based mechanism targeting specific mRNAs in C. elegans soma. In the initiation stage of this process, a group of mRNA species are chosen as targets for downregulation, leading to accumulation of rare 26-nt 5'-phosphorylated antisense RNAs that depend on the RdRP homolog RRF-3, the argonaute ERGO-1, DICER, and a series of associated (ERI) factors. This primary process leads to production of a much more abundant class of 22-nt antisense RNAs, dependent on a secondary RdRP (RRF-1) and associating with at least one distinct Argonaute (NRDE-3). The requirement for two RdRP/Argonaute combinations and initiation by a rare class of uniquely-structured siRNAs in this pathway illustrate the caution and flexibility used as biological systems exploit the physiological copying of RNA. 24 small RNA and 2 polyA RNA samples
Project description:DICER has a well-characterized role in the processing of microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNA) that are important for post-transcriptional gene regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that DICER also has several non-canonical functions beyond miRNA/siRNA biogenesis, for example in transcriptional gene silencing at the chromatin level, as well as in RNA degradation and maintenance of genomic integrity. We have shown that the function of DICER in germ cells is essential for normal spermatogenesis; male mice lacking DICER in postnatal male germ cells are infertile due to severe defects in haploid differentiation. To better understand the function of DICER in male germ cells, we immunoprecipitated DICER from juvenile mouse testes and performed mass spectrometric analysis to identify DICER-interacting proteins.
Project description:To determine the spectrum of miRNA targets regulated following Dicer deletion, we performed argonaute 2 (AGO2)-RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP)-microarray in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from LysM-Cre/Dicerflox/flox/Apoe–/– and LysM-Cre/Dicerwt/wt/Apoe–/– mice. This analysis combined with miRNA profiling in Dicer wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) BMDMs may help to identify the miRNA targets regulated by Dicer deletion.
Project description:RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent mechanism for down-regulating gene expression. Conserved RNAi pathway components are found in animals, plants, fungi and other eukaryotes. In C. elegans, the RNAi response is greatly amplified by the synthesis of abundant secondary siRNAs. Exogenous double stranded RNA is processed by Dicer and RDE-1/Argonaute into primary siRNA that guides target mRNA recognition. The RDE-10/RDE-11 complex and the RNA dependent RNA polymerase RRF-1 then engage the target mRNA for secondary siRNA synthesis. However, the molecular link between primary siRNA production and secondary siRNA synthesis remains largely unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear if the sub-cellular sites for target mRNA recognition and degradation coincide with sites where siRNA synthesis and amplification occur. In the C. elegans germline, cytoplasmic P granules at the nuclear pores and perinuclear Mutator foci contribute to target mRNA surveillance and siRNA amplification, respectively. We report that RDE-12, a conserved FG domain containing DEAD-box helicase, localizes in P-granules and cytoplasmic foci that are enriched in RSD-6 but are excluded from the Mutator foci. Our results suggest that RDE-12 promotes secondary siRNA synthesis by orchestrating the recruitment of RDE-10 and RRF-1 to primary siRNA targeted mRNA in distinct cytoplasmic compartments. Examination of exogenous dsRNA trigger derived siRNA in wildtype and rde-12 mutant animals
Project description:RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent mechanism for down-regulating gene expression. Conserved RNAi pathway components are found in animals, plants, fungi and other eukaryotes. In C. elegans, the RNAi response is greatly amplified by the synthesis of abundant secondary siRNAs. Exogenous double stranded RNA is processed by Dicer and RDE-1/Argonaute into primary siRNA that guides target mRNA recognition. The RDE-10/RDE-11 complex and the RNA dependent RNA polymerase RRF-1 then engage the target mRNA for secondary siRNA synthesis. However, the molecular link between primary siRNA production and secondary siRNA synthesis remains largely unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear if the sub-cellular sites for target mRNA recognition and degradation coincide with sites where siRNA synthesis and amplification occur. In the C. elegans germline, cytoplasmic P granules at the nuclear pores and perinuclear Mutator foci contribute to target mRNA surveillance and siRNA amplification, respectively. We report that RDE-12, a conserved FG domain containing DEAD-box helicase, localizes in P-granules and cytoplasmic foci that are enriched in RSD-6 but are excluded from the Mutator foci. Our results suggest that RDE-12 promotes secondary siRNA synthesis by orchestrating the recruitment of RDE-10 and RRF-1 to primary siRNA targeted mRNA in distinct cytoplasmic compartments.
Project description:Pathways underlying miRNA biogenesis, degradation, and activity were established early in land plant evolution, but the 24-nt siRNA pathway that guides DNA methylation was incomplete in early land plants, especially lycophytes. We show that the functional diversification of key gene families such as DICER-LIKE and ARGONAUTE (AGO) as observed in angiosperms occurred early in land plants followed by parallel expansion of the AGO family in ferns and angiosperms. We uncovered an unexpected AGO family specific to lycophytes and ferns. Our phylogenetic analyses of miRNAs in lycophytes, bryophytes, ferns, and angiosperms refined the temporal origination of conserved miRNA families in land plants.
Project description:Analysis of miRNA-targeted cellular NMD substrates in HeLa cell. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that endogenous NMD substrates containing long 3' untranslated region may targeted for miRNA. Results provide important information expanding the roles of miRISC in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression: a new cross-talk between miRNA-mediated gene silencing and NMD. ABSTRACT: Imperfect base-pairing between microRNA (miRNA) and the 3â-untranslated region (3âUTR) of target mRNA triggers translational repression of the target mRNA. Here, we provide evidence that human Argonaute 2 (Ago2) targets cap-binding protein (CBP)80/20- and exon junction complex (EJC)-bound mRNAs and inhibits nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which is tightly restricted to CBP80/20-bound mRNAs. Furthermore, microarray analyses reveal that a subset of cellular transcripts, which are expected to be targeted for NMD, is stabilized by miRNA-mediated gene silencing. The regulation of NMD by miRNAs will shed light on a new post-transcriptional regulation mechanism of gene expression in mammalian cells Total RNA obtained from HeLa cells with downregulation of Ago2 or Ago2/UPF1 by siRNA. The up- or down-regulated transcripts were compared to control siRNA treated HeLa cell RNA extract. Significant transcripts were confirmed by replication.
Project description:Effective silencing by RNA-interference (RNAi) depends on mechanisms that amplify and propagate the silencing signal. In some organisms, small-interfering (si) RNAs are amplified from target mRNAs by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). Both RdRP recruitment and mRNA silencing require Argonaute proteins, which are generally thought to degrade RNAi targets by directly cleaving them. However in C. elegans, the enzymatic activity of the primary Argonaute, RDE-1, is not required for silencing activity. We show that RDE-1 can instead recruit an endoribonuclease, RDE-8, to target RNA. RDE-8 can cleave RNA in vitro and is needed for the production of 3′ uridylated fragments of target mRNA in vivo. We also find that RDE-8 promotes RdRP activity, thereby ensuring amplification of siRNAs. Together, our findings suggest a model in which RDE-8 cleaves target mRNAs to mediate silencing, while generating 3’ uridylated mRNA fragments to serve as templates for the RdRP-directed amplification of the silencing signal.
Project description:Analysis NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells transfected with synthetic oligo mimics for microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-34a and ghR-34a. We developed a 30-nucleotide single-strand RNA (ssRNA), termed “guide hairpin RNA (ghR),” that has a physiological function similar to that of miRNA and siRNA. The ghR caused no innate cytokine response either in vitro or in vivo. In addition, its structure does not contain a passenger strand seed sequence, reducing the potential for off-target effects relative to existing short RNA reagents. Systemic injection of ghR-form miR-34a (ghR-34a) suppressed tumor growth in a mouse model of RAS-induced lung cancer. Furthermore, ghR-34a functioned in a Dicer- and Ago2-independent manner. This novel RNAi technology may provide a novel, safe, and effective nucleic acid drug platform that will increase the clinical usefulness of nucleic acid therapy. MiR-34a–targeted mRNAs regulated by mRNA degradation rather than translational inhibition were identified using microarray data from miR-34 and ghR-34a transfectants.