The RNA phosphatase PIR-1 regulates endogenous small RNA pathways in C. elegans
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ABSTRACT: Eukaryotic cells regulate 5’ triphosphorylated (ppp) RNAs to promote cellular functions and to prevent recognition by viral RNA sensors. For example, the triphosphatase domain of RNA capping enzymes removes the γ phosphate of ppp-RNAs in RNA capping reactions. Members of a related RNA polyphosphotase family including human PIR1 remove both the β and γ phosphates from ppp-RNAs. Here we demonstrate that C. elegans PIR-1, previously identified as a Dicer-interacting protein, dephosphorylates single and double-stranded ppp-RNAs, and is required for the maturation of 26G-RNAs, which regulate thousands of genes during spermatogenesis and embryogenesis. We find that 26G-RNAs are generated in a unique semi-phasing manner in which primary 26G-RNAs are required for generating secondary 26G-RNAs and PIR-1 is required for removing a diphosphate group from each triphosphorylated precursor, which only generates one 26G-RNA. Our findings also implicate PIR-1 in regulating ppp-RNAs in Dicer-independent pathways, supporting PIR-1 as a master phosphatase regulating ppp-RNAs.
ORGANISM(S): Caenorhabditis elegans
PROVIDER: GSE150690 | GEO | 2021/05/14
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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