Project description:Small RNAs exert an effect through diverse RNA interference pathways to transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally silence their targets. The Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) represent a germline-specific small RNA pathway where Piwi proteins themselves are thought to mediate piRNA biosynthesis. Here, we provide strong evidence for a piRNA amplification loop in zebrafish, in which Ziwi and Zili bind piRNAs of opposite polarity. Furthermore, we describe a function for Zili in transposon defense and germ cell differentiation, as well as a crucial function in meiosis, significantly extending the function of Piwi proteins beyond the control of transposable elements in vertebrates.
Project description:Small RNAs exert an effect through diverse RNA interference pathways to transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally silence their targets. The Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) represent a germline-specific small RNA pathway where Piwi proteins themselves are thought to mediate piRNA biosynthesis. Here, we provide strong evidence for a piRNA amplification loop in zebrafish, in which Ziwi and Zili bind piRNAs of opposite polarity. Furthermore, we describe a function for Zili in transposon defense and germ cell differentiation, as well as a crucial function in meiosis, significantly extending the function of Piwi proteins beyond the control of transposable elements in vertebrates. small RNA from total gonads or Argonaute IPs were cloned and sequenced using 454 GS FLX system.
Project description:This project aimed at identifying developmental stage specific transcript profiles for catecholaminergic neurons in embryos and early larvae of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Catecholaminergic neurons were labeled using transgenic zebrafish strains to drive expression of GFP. At stages 24, 36, 72 and 96 hrs post fertilization, embryos were dissociated and GFP expressing cells sorted by FACS. Isolated RNAs were processed using either polyA selection and libray generation or NanoCAGE. This is the first effort to determine stage specific mRNA profiles of catecholaminergic neurons in zebrafish.
Project description:Piwi proteins specify an animal-specific subclass of the Argonaute family, that in vertebrates are specifically expressed in germ cells. We demonstrate that zebrafish Piwi (Ziwi) is expressed in both the male and the female gonad, and is a component of a germline specifying structure, called nuage. Loss of Ziwi function results in a progressive loss of germ cells due to apoptosis during larval development. In animals that have only reduced Ziwi function, germ cells are maintained, but display abnormal levels of apoptosis in adults. In mammals, Piwi proteins have been found to associate with approximately 29-nucleotide long, testis specific RNA molecules, called piRNAs. Here we show that zebrafish piRNAs are present in both ovaries and testes. Furthermore, we show that piRNAs are modified at their 3’ end and that they are produced by a Dicer independent mechanism. Many ovarian piRNAs are derived from transposons, implicating a role for these molecules in the silencing of these repetitive elements in vertebrates. Keywords: high-throughput 454 sequencing sequencing of ~30 nt small RNAs from zebrafish ovaries and testes using 454 technology