ALG-5 is a miRNA-associated Argonaute required for proper developmental timing in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Caenorhabditis elegans
PROVIDER: GSE98935 | GEO | 2017/06/09
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA386876
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:Caenorhabditis elegans contains 25 Argonautes, of which, ALG-1 and ALG-2 are known to primarily interact with miRNAs. ALG-5 belongs to the AGO subfamily of Argonautes that includes ALG-1 and ALG-2, but its role in small RNA pathways is unknown. We analyzed by high-throughput sequencing the small RNAs associated with ALG-5, ALG-1 and ALG-2, as well as changes in mRNA expression in alg-5, alg-1 and alg-2 mutants. We show that ALG-5 defines a distinct branch of the miRNA pathway affecting the expression of genes involved in immunity, defense, and development. In contrast to ALG-1 and ALG-2, which associate with most miRNAs and have general roles throughout development, ALG-5 interacts with only a small subset of miRNAs and is specifically expressed in the germline where it localizes alongside the piRNA and siRNA machinery at P granules. alg-5 is required for optimal fertility and mutations in alg-5 lead to a precocious transition from spermatogenesis to oogenesis. Our results provide a near-comprehensive analysis of miRNA-Argonaute interactions in C. elegans and reveal a new role for miRNAs in the germline.
| S-EPMC5587817 | biostudies-literature
Project description:MicroRNAs are regulators of gene expression whose functions are critical for normal development and physiology. We have previously characterized mutations in a Caenorhabditis elegans microRNA-specific Argonaute ALG-1 (Argonaute-like gene) that are antimorphic [alg-1(anti)]. alg-1(anti) mutants have dramatically stronger microRNA-related phenotypes than animals with a complete loss of ALG-1. ALG-1(anti) miRISC (microRNA induced silencing complex) fails to undergo a functional transition from microRNA processing to target repression. To better understand this transition, we characterized the small RNA population associated with ALG-1(anti) complexes in vivo. alg-1(anti) mutants dramatically overaccumulated microRNA* (passenger) strands, and immunoprecipitated ALG-1(anti) complexes contained nonstoichiometric yields of mature microRNA and microRNA* strands, with some microRNA* strands present in the ALG-1(anti) Argonaute far in excess of the corresponding mature microRNAs. We show complex and microRNA-specific defects in microRNA strand selection and microRNA* strand disposal. For certain microRNAs (for example mir-58), microRNA guide strand selection by ALG-1(anti) appeared normal, but microRNA* strand release was inefficient. For other microRNAs (such as mir-2), both the microRNA and microRNA* strands were selected as guide by ALG-1(anti), indicating a defect in normal specificity of the strand choice. Our results suggest that wild-type ALG-1 complexes recognize structural features of particular microRNAs in the context of conducting the strand selection and microRNA* ejection steps of miRISC maturation. Deep-sequencing was performed on cDNA libraries made from total RNA and RNA immunoprecipitated with ALG-1 from mixed-staged populations of three strains: three biological replicates from wild-type animals and two biological replicates each from alg-1(ma192) and alg-1(ma202) mutant animals. In addition, deep-sequencing was performed on cDNA libraries made from L2-staged total RNA in two biological replicates from wildtype and alg-1(ma202) animals and one biological replicate of alg-1(ma192).
2015-09-07 | E-GEOD-72659 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:MicroRNAs are regulators of gene expression whose functions are critical for normal development and physiology. We have previously characterized mutations in a Caenorhabditis elegans microRNA-specific Argonaute ALG-1 (Argonaute-like gene) that are antimorphic [alg-1(anti)]. alg-1(anti) mutants have dramatically stronger microRNA-related phenotypes than animals with a complete loss of ALG-1. ALG-1(anti) miRISC (microRNA induced silencing complex) fails to undergo a functional transition from microRNA processing to target repression. To better understand this transition, we characterized the small RNA population associated with ALG-1(anti) complexes in vivo. alg-1(anti) mutants dramatically overaccumulated microRNA* (passenger) strands, and immunoprecipitated ALG-1(anti) complexes contained nonstoichiometric yields of mature microRNA and microRNA* strands, with some microRNA* strands present in the ALG-1(anti) Argonaute far in excess of the corresponding mature microRNAs. We show complex and microRNA-specific defects in microRNA strand selection and microRNA* strand disposal. For certain microRNAs (for example mir-58), microRNA guide strand selection by ALG-1(anti) appeared normal, but microRNA* strand release was inefficient. For other microRNAs (such as mir-2), both the microRNA and microRNA* strands were selected as guide by ALG-1(anti), indicating a defect in normal specificity of the strand choice. Our results suggest that wild-type ALG-1 complexes recognize structural features of particular microRNAs in the context of conducting the strand selection and microRNA* ejection steps of miRISC maturation.
2015-09-07 | GSE72659 | GEO
Project description:Coordination of gene regulatory networks is necessary for proper execution of cellular programs throughout development. RNA interference (RNAi) is an essential regulatory mechanism in all metazoans. Proper RNAi-mediated gene regulation requires coordination of several RNAi branches to ensure homeostasis. For example, in C. elegans, the Argonautes, ALG-3 and ALG-4, are expressed specifically during spermatogenesis (L4 stage) and bind small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) complementary to sperm-enriched genes. We find that alg-3 and alg-4 are regulated by siRNAs. Our work shows that gene switches are operated via these siRNAs to regulate the Argonautes’ expression in a temporal manner. This RNAi-to-RNAi regulatory cascade is essential for coordinating ALG-3/4 pathway function, particularly during heat stress, to provide thermotolerant sperm-based fertility. This work provides insight into one regulatory motif used to maintain RNAi homeostasis, across developmental stages, despite environmental stressors. As RNAi pathways are evolutionarily conserved, other species likely use similar regulatory architectures to maintain RNAi homeostasis.
2024-06-25 | GSE226891 | GEO
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNA) associate with Argonaute proteins and negatively regulate gene expression by base pairing with complementary sequences in the 3’ UTRs of target genes. De novo coding variants in the human Argonaute gene AGO1 were reported to cause neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with intellectual disability (ID). Most of the altered amino acids are conserved between the miRNA associated Argonautes in H. sapiens and C. elegans, suggesting that the human AGO1 mutations could disrupt evolutionarily conserved functions in miRNA biogenesis or target repression. We genetically modeled four human AGO1 mutations in C. elegans by introducing identical mutations into the C. elegans AGO1 homolog, ALG-1. These alg-1 NDD mutations caused phenotypes in C. elegans indicative of disrupted miRNA processing, miRISC formation, and/or target repression. We show that the alg-1 NDD mutations are antimorphic as they cause developmental and molecular phenotypes stronger than those exhibited by the alg-1 null mutants, likely by sequestrating functional miRNA silencing complex (miRISC) components into non-functional complexes that fail to confer robust gene repression. The alg-1 NDD mutations cause allele-specific disruptions in mature miRNA profiles, both in overall abundances and ALG-1 NDD association, accompanied by perturbation of downstream gene expression, including altered translational efficiency and/or mRNA abundance. The perturbed genes include those with human orthologs whose dysfunction is associated with NDD. These cross-clade genetic studies illuminate fundamental Argonaute functions and provide insights into the conservation of miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.
2023-12-30 | GSE252063 | GEO
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNA) associate with Argonaute proteins and negatively regulate gene expression by base pairing with complementary sequences in the 3’ UTRs of target genes. De novo coding variants in the human Argonaute gene AGO1 were reported to cause neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with intellectual disability (ID). Most of the altered amino acids are conserved between the miRNA associated Argonautes in H. sapiens and C. elegans, suggesting that the human AGO1 mutations could disrupt evolutionarily conserved functions in miRNA biogenesis or target repression. We genetically modeled four human AGO1 mutations in C. elegans by introducing identical mutations into the C. elegans AGO1 homolog, ALG-1. These alg-1 NDD mutations caused phenotypes in C. elegans indicative of disrupted miRNA processing, miRISC formation, and/or target repression. We show that the alg-1 NDD mutations are antimorphic as they cause developmental and molecular phenotypes stronger than those exhibited by the alg-1 null mutants, likely by sequestrating functional miRNA silencing complex (miRISC) components into non-functional complexes that fail to confer robust gene repression. The alg-1 NDD mutations cause allele-specific disruptions in mature miRNA profiles, both in overall abundances and ALG-1 NDD association, accompanied by perturbation of downstream gene expression, including altered translational efficiency and/or mRNA abundance. The perturbed genes include those with human orthologs whose dysfunction is associated with NDD. These cross-clade genetic studies illuminate fundamental Argonaute functions and provide insights into the conservation of miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.
2023-12-30 | GSE252065 | GEO
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNA) associate with Argonaute proteins and negatively regulate gene expression by base pairing with complementary sequences in the 3’ UTRs of target genes. De novo coding variants in the human Argonaute gene AGO1 were reported to cause neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with intellectual disability (ID). Most of the altered amino acids are conserved between the miRNA associated Argonautes in H. sapiens and C. elegans, suggesting that the human AGO1 mutations could disrupt evolutionarily conserved functions in miRNA biogenesis or target repression. We genetically modeled four human AGO1 mutations in C. elegans by introducing identical mutations into the C. elegans AGO1 homolog, ALG-1. These alg-1 NDD mutations caused phenotypes in C. elegans indicative of disrupted miRNA processing, miRISC formation, and/or target repression. We show that the alg-1 NDD mutations are antimorphic as they cause developmental and molecular phenotypes stronger than those exhibited by the alg-1 null mutants, likely by sequestrating functional miRNA silencing complex (miRISC) components into non-functional complexes that fail to confer robust gene repression. The alg-1 NDD mutations cause allele-specific disruptions in mature miRNA profiles, both in overall abundances and ALG-1 NDD association, accompanied by perturbation of downstream gene expression, including altered translational efficiency and/or mRNA abundance. The perturbed genes include those with human orthologs whose dysfunction is associated with NDD. These cross-clade genetic studies illuminate fundamental Argonaute functions and provide insights into the conservation of miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.
2023-12-30 | GSE252064 | GEO
Project description:Investigated the specific miRNAs that are assocaited with ALG-1 and ALG-2 in adult (D5) C. elegans. ALG-1 and ALG-2 were IP-ed from D5 collected C.elegans, RNA was isolated and used for small RNA sequencing. Two biological replicates were used.
2018-05-01 | GSE112754 | GEO
Project description:This study analyzes miRNA association with ALG-1 and ALG-2 in different stages during larval development of C. elegans Staged animals (L1, L2, L3, L4) - the alg-2 mutant expressing tagged-ALG-2, alg-1 mutant, and wild type controls - were lysed. ALG-1 IP or ALG-2 (GFP) IP was performed using tags from all four samples at all four timepoints. Small RNAs were released from antibodies and 5' end-labelled with AlexaFluor532. Labelled RNA was hybridized to a custom microRNA microarray platform to quantify miRNA content.
2012-02-03 | E-GEOD-35505 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Here, we report a new phosphorylation site on ALG-1 that modulates its ability to bind miRNAs. Mutating ALG-1 S642 into a phosphomimetic residue strongly impairs binding to miRNAs. Furthermore, this mutation causes embryonic lethality which are not observed in animals depleted of alg-1 suggesting that it may consequently impair the normal function of its homolog alg-2. Quantification of miRNAs in the phosphorylation mutants of alg-1 reveals that the miRNA passenger strands are strongly increased but not preferentially loaded into ALG-1, indicating that the defects in miRNA binding may also lead to an accumulation of miRNA duplexes.
2022-12-19 | GSE174368 | GEO