Project description:We previously reported that the RNA endonculease HOE-1 (RNaseZ/ELAC2) is necessary and sufficient for activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in C. elegans (PMID: 35451962). To comprehensively assess the broader cellular consequences of increased nuclear activity of HOE-1, we conducted RNA sequencing on day 2 adult wildtype animals vs animals in which endogenous HOE-1 is elevated in the nucleus via perturbation of its nuclear export signal (hoe-1(ΔNES)). Additionally, wildtype and hoe-1(ΔNES) animals were grown on both control and atfs-1 RNAi (ATFS-1 is the central transcription factor for UPRmt) to determine gene expression that is atfs-1 dependent. This analysis revealed that differential gene expression in hoe-1(ΔNES) animals exhibits a strong mitochondrial signature. Notably, gene ontology (GO) analysis of significantly upregulated genes showed a significant overrepresentation of mitochondrial associated genes. Moreover, knockdown of atfs-1 strongly compromised the differentially expressed gene profile. Together these data suggest that increased nuclear activity of HOE-1 preferential impacts expression of mitochondrial genes.
Project description:To better understand genome coordination and OXPHOS recovery during mitochondrial dysfunction, we examined ATFS-1, a transcription factor that regulates mitochondria-to nuclear communication during the mitochondrial UPR, via ChIP-sequencing. Wildtype worms treated spg-7(RNAi) are analyzed in the presence and absence of ATFS-1 antibody to identify ATFS-1 targets. Individual samples were analyzed. Wildtype worms treated spg-7(RNAi) in the absence of antibody is used as a control.
Project description:The Argonautes (AGOs) are widely expressed, evolutionarily conserved RNA binding proteins that play an important role in gene expression regulation. The AGOs bind to small regulatory noncoding RNAs such as micro RNAs (miRNAs), short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) etc. The small regulatory noncoding RNAs serve the function of guiding the AGOs to the right target RNAs by complementary base pairing. Additionally, the AGOs interact with GW182 (TNRC6A/-B/-C) proteins and together with small RNAs, they form an effector ribonucleo protein complex named, RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) that regulates several aspects of transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression. ALG-1 (Argonaute Like Gene) and ALG-2 are the AGO proteins in C. elegans that are required for miRNA mediated gene expression regulation. Our efforts towards the characterization of the protein complexes comprised of ALG-1 led to the identification of DPF-3, a conserved protease belonging to clinically relevant Di Peptidyl Peptidase IV family, as the novel interacting partner of ALG-1. We have further explored the role of DPF-3 in AGO regulation.
Project description:We sequenced the transcriptome of a host (Caenorhabditis elegans) following its interaction with a non-native bacterium (Enterococcus faecalis) that has protective traits against the pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. We also investigated the impact that the evolutionary history of the protective bacterium has on the transcriptional history of the host. We tested protective bacteria that had either coevolved against the pathogen within C. elegans, or had evolved on its own within C. elegans.