PID-1 is a novel factor that operates during 21U RNA biogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans
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ABSTRACT: Animal germ cells employ small RNA-based mechanisms to recognize and silence DNA that invades their genome. One of these pathways is named the Piwi:piRNA pathway. Biogenesis of piRNAs is poorly understood. In C. elegans, the piRNA (21U-RNA)-binding Argonaute protein PRG-1 is the only known player acting downstream of pre-cursor transcription. From a screen aimed at the isolation of M-bM-^@M-^XpiRNA-induced silencing defectiveM-bM-^@M-^Y mutations we identified, amongst known Piwi-pathway components like MUT-7, RDE-3 and HRDE-1, PID-1 as a novel player. PID-1 is essential for 21U RNA biogenesis and affects an early step in the processing or transport of 21U precursor transcripts. 12 small RNA samples were analyzed as singletons.
Project description:Animal germ cells employ small RNA-based mechanisms to recognize and silence DNA that invades their genome. One of these pathways is named the Piwi:piRNA pathway. Biogenesis of piRNAs is poorly understood. In C. elegans, the piRNA (21U-RNA)-binding Argonaute protein PRG-1 is the only known player acting downstream of pre-cursor transcription. From a screen aimed at the isolation of ‘piRNA-induced silencing defective’ mutations we identified, amongst known Piwi-pathway components like MUT-7, RDE-3 and HRDE-1, PID-1 as a novel player. PID-1 is essential for 21U RNA biogenesis and affects an early step in the processing or transport of 21U precursor transcripts.
Project description:In animals, piRNAs, and their associated Piwi proteins, guard germ cell genomes against mobile genetic elements via an RNAi-like mechanism. In C. elegans, 21U-RNAs comprise the piRNA class and these collaborate with 22G RNAs, via unclear mechanisms, to discriminate self from non-self and selectively and heritably silence the latter. Recent work indicates that 21U-RNAs are post-transcriptional processing products of individual transcription units that produce ~26 nucleotide capped precursors. Yet, nothing is known of how the expression of precursors is controlled or of how primary transcripts give rise to mature small RNAs. We conducted a genome-wide RNAi screen to identify components of the 21U biogenesis machinery. Screening by direct, qPCR-based measurements of mature 21U-RNA levels, we identified 22 genes important for 21U-RNA production, termed TOFUs (Twenty-One-u Fouled Up). We also identified 7 genes that normally repress 21U production. By measuring mature 21U-RNA and precursor levels for the 7 strongest hits from the screen, we have assigned factors to discrete stages of 21U-RNA production. Our work has identified factors separately required for the transcription of 21U precursors, and the processing of these precursors into mature 21U-RNAs, thereby providing an essential resource for studying the biogenesis of this important small RNA class. Small RNA and capped small RNA sequencing from total RNA of C. elegans subjected to different RNAi and different C. elegans mutants
Project description:Piwi-interacting (pi) RNAs are a class of germline-expressed small RNAs that have been linked to epigenetic programming in metazoa. C. elegans piRNAs known as 21U-RNAs are defined by more than 15,000 genome-encoded species. To explore the origin of 21U-RNAs we employed methods to enrich the 5' ends of Pol II transcripts. We show that a species of capped-short (cs) RNA is frequently expressed bidirectionally at Pol II loci in C. elegans. Interestingly, at annotated 21U-RNA loci, csRNAs originate precisely 2 nt upstream of the mature piRNA species suggesting that csRNAs are piRNA precursors. In addition, we show that csRNAs associated with TS sites genome-wide define a previously overlooked class of 21U-RNA loci, and nearly double the number of piRNA species available for genome surveillance. Our methods should be of general utility in TS site identification and 5' anchored RNA-expression profiling. Identification of capped RNA including capped small RNA and long capped RNA in C. elegans. The mouse data are independent data to test the CapSeq sequencing protocol.
Project description:Piwi Argonautes and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) mediate genome defense by targeting transposons. However, many piRNA species lack obvious sequence complementarity to transposons or other loci. For example, only one C. elegans transposon is a known piRNA target. Here we show that, in mutants lacking the Piwi Argonaute PRG-1 and associated piRNAs (21U-RNAs), many silent loci in the germline exhibit increased levels of mRNA expression and depletion of an amplified RNAdependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)-derived species of small RNA termed 22G-RNAs. Sequences depleted of 22G-RNAs are enriched nearby potential target sites that base pair imperfectly but extensively to 21U-RNAs. We show that PRG-1 is required to initiate, but not to maintain, silencing of transgenes engineered to contain complementarity to endogenous 21U-RNAs. Our findings support a model in which C. elegans piRNAs utilize their enormous repertoire of targeting capacity to scan the germline transcriptome for foreign sequences, while endogenous germline-expressed genes are actively protected from piRNA-induced silencing. Examine small RNA population changes in prg-1 and rescued strains
Project description:In Caenorhabditis elegans, the piRNA (21U RNA) pathway is required to establish proper gene regulation and an immortal germline. To achieve this, PRG-1-bound 21U RNAs trigger silencing mechanisms mediated by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)-synthetized 22G RNAs. This silencing can become PRG-1-independent, and heritable over many generations. This state is named RNAe. It is unknown how and when RNAe is established, and how it is maintained. We show that maternally provided 21U RNAs can be sufficient to trigger RNAe in embryos. Additionally, we identify the IDR-containing protein PID-2, as a factor required to establish and maintain RNAe. PID-2 interacts with two novel, partially redundant, eTudor domain proteins, PID-4 and PID-5. Additionally, PID-5 has a domain related to the X-prolyl aminopeptidase protein APP-1, and binds APP-1, implicating N-terminal proteolysis in RNAe. All three proteins are required for germline immortality, localize to perinuclear foci and affect Z granules, and are required for balancing of 22G RNA populations. Overall, our study identifies three new proteins with crucial functions in the C. elegans small RNA silencing network.
Project description:Piwi proteins are important for germ cell development and function in almost all animals studied thus far. These proteins are guided to specific targets, such as transposable elements, by small guide RNAs, often referred to as piRNAs, or 21U RNAs in C. elegans. In this organism, even though genetic screens have uncovered a number of potential 21U RNA biogenesis factors, little is known about how these factors interact or what they do. Based on the previously identified 21U biogenesis factor PID-1, we here define a novel protein complex, PETISCO, that is required for 21U RNA biogenesis. PETISCO contains both potential 5’-cap and 5’-phosphate RNA binding activities, suggesting involvement in 5’ end processing. We define the interaction architecture of PETISCO and reveal a second function required for embryonic development. This essential function of PETISCO is not mediated by PID-1, but by TOST-1. Vice versa, TOST-1 is not involved in 21U RNA biogenesis. Both PID-1 and TOST-1 are small, intrinsically disordered proteins that interact directly with the PETISCO protein ERH-2 (enhancer of rudimentary homolog 2) using a conserved sequence motif. Finally, our data suggest an important role for TOST-1:PETISCO in SL1 homeostasis in the early embryo. Our work describes the first molecular platform for 21U RNA production in C. elegans, and reveals that 21U RNA biogenesis is built upon a much more widely used snRNA-related pathway.
Project description:PIWI-clade Argonaute proteins repress transposable elements in animal gonads. Their sequence specificity is conferred via bound ~23-30nt long piRNAs, which are processed from single stranded precursor RNAs. How transcripts are specified as precursors and processed into stereotypical piRNA populations are central unresolved questions. Here we show that piRNA-guided RNA cleavage in Drosophila results not only in generation of a ping-pong partner piRNA but further triggers efficient 3′ directed and phased primary piRNA biogenesis. Phasing is a feature of primary piRNAs in somatic and germline cells and a consequence of consecutive endo-nucleolytic cleavage events catalyzed by Zucchini. Formation of 3′ and 5′ ends of flanking piRNAs is therefore tightly coupled. Zucchini also participates in 3′ end formation of secondary piRNAs but its function can be bypassed by additional downstream piRNA-guided cleavages and subsequent precursor trimming. Hallmarks of Zucchini-dependent phased piRNA biogenesis are also evident in mouse testes, pointing to an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of piRNA biogenesis. This study aims at understanding how piRNA biogenesis is intiated in the Drosophila germline and understanding the role of the nuclease Zucchini/MitoPLD in piRNA biogenesis in Drosophila/Mouse by analysing small RNA sequencing data of various genotypes and sensor constructs.
Project description:Piwi-interacting (pi) RNAs are a class of germline-expressed small RNAs that have been linked to epigenetic programming in metazoa. C. elegans piRNAs known as 21U-RNAs are defined by more than 15,000 genome-encoded species. To explore the origin of 21U-RNAs we employed methods to enrich the 5' ends of Pol II transcripts. We show that a species of capped-short (cs) RNA is frequently expressed bidirectionally at Pol II loci in C. elegans. Interestingly, at annotated 21U-RNA loci, csRNAs originate precisely 2 nt upstream of the mature piRNA species suggesting that csRNAs are piRNA precursors. In addition, we show that csRNAs associated with TS sites genome-wide define a previously overlooked class of 21U-RNA loci, and nearly double the number of piRNA species available for genome surveillance. Our methods should be of general utility in TS site identification and 5' anchored RNA-expression profiling.
Project description:Piwi Argonautes and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) mediate genome defense by targeting transposons. However, many piRNA species lack obvious sequence complementarity to transposons or other loci. For example, only one C. elegans transposon is a known piRNA target. Here we show that, in mutants lacking the Piwi Argonaute PRG-1 and associated piRNAs (21U-RNAs), many silent loci in the germline exhibit increased levels of mRNA expression and depletion of an amplified RNAdependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)-derived species of small RNA termed 22G-RNAs. Sequences depleted of 22G-RNAs are enriched nearby potential target sites that base pair imperfectly but extensively to 21U-RNAs. We show that PRG-1 is required to initiate, but not to maintain, silencing of transgenes engineered to contain complementarity to endogenous 21U-RNAs. Our findings support a model in which C. elegans piRNAs utilize their enormous repertoire of targeting capacity to scan the germline transcriptome for foreign sequences, while endogenous germline-expressed genes are actively protected from piRNA-induced silencing.
Project description:Germ cells of most animals critically depend on piRNAs and Piwi proteins. Surprisingly, piRNAs in mouse oocytes are relatively rare and dispensable. We present compelling evidence for strong Piwi-piRNA expression in oocytes of other mammals. Human fetal oocytes express PIWIL2 and transposon-enriched piRNAs. Oocytes in adult human ovary express PIWIL1 and PIWIL2, while those in bovine ovary just express PIWIL1. In human, macaque and bovine ovaries we find piRNAs that resemble testis-borne pachytene piRNAs. Isolated bovine follicular oocytes were shown to contain abundant, relatively short piRNAs that preferentially target transposable elements. Using label-free quantitative proteome analysis we show that these maturing oocytes strongly and specifically express the thus-far uncharacterized PIWIL3 protein, alongside other known piRNA-pathway components. In bovine early embryos these piRNAs are still abundant, revealing a potential impact of piRNAs on mammalian embryogenesis. Our results reveal unexpected, highly dynamic piRNA pathways in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. Analyses of multiple small RNA libraries obtained from fetal/adult oocytes, cumulus cells, ovary, testis and 2-4 cell stage ivf embryos of multiple mammalian species.