Project description:Argonaute proteins of the PIWI clade are central to transposon silencing in animal gonads. Their target specificity is defined by 22-30nt PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which mostly originate from discrete genomic loci termed piRNA clusters. Here we show that the RDC complex composed of Rhino, Deadlock and Cutoff defines dual-strand piRNA clusters genome-wide in Drosophila ovaries. The RDC complex is anchored to H3K9me3-marked chromatin in part via Rhino’s chromo-domain. Depletion of Piwi results in loss of the RDC and small RNAs at euchromatic piRNA source loci, demonstrating a feedback loop between Piwi and genomic piRNA sources. Intriguingly, profiles of RNA Polymerase II occupancy, nascent transcription and steady-state RNA levels reveal that the RDC licenses non-canonical transcription of dual-stranded piRNA clusters. Likely, this process involves 5’end protection of nascent RNAs and subsequent suppression of transcription termination. Together, our data provide a comprehensive model for the regulation and evolution of piRNA clusters.
Project description:Argonaute proteins of the PIWI clade are central to transposon silencing in animal gonads. Their target specificity is defined by 22-30nt PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which mostly originate from discrete genomic loci termed piRNA clusters. Here we show that the RDC complex composed of Rhino, Deadlock and Cutoff defines dual-strand piRNA clusters genome-wide in Drosophila ovaries. The RDC complex is anchored to H3K9me3-marked chromatin in part via RhinoM-bM-^@M-^Ys chromo-domain. Depletion of Piwi results in loss of the RDC and small RNAs at euchromatic piRNA source loci, demonstrating a feedback loop between Piwi and genomic piRNA sources. Intriguingly, profiles of RNA Polymerase II occupancy, nascent transcription and steady-state RNA levels reveal that the RDC licenses non-canonical transcription of dual-stranded piRNA clusters. Likely, this process involves 5M-bM-^@M-^Yend protection of nascent RNAs and subsequent suppression of transcription termination. Together, our data provide a comprehensive model for the regulation and evolution of piRNA clusters. This study aims at indentifying and characterizing genimc sources of piRNA percursour transcripts using genome-wide apporaches such as ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, smallRNA-seq and GRO-seq in adult Drosophila ovaries depleted for several factors implicated in piRNA cluster regulation
Project description:The control of transposable element (TE) activity in germ cells provides genome integrity over generations. A distinct small RNA-mediated pathway utilizing Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) suppresses TE expression in gonads of metazoans. In the fly, primary piRNAs derive from so-called piRNA clusters, which are enriched in damaged repeated sequences. These piRNAs launch a cycle of TE and piRNA cluster transcript cleavages resulting in the amplification of piRNA and TE silencing. Using genome-wide comparison of TE insertions and ovarian small RNA libraries from two Drosophila strains, we found that individual TEs inserted into euchromatic loci form novel dual-stranded piRNA clusters. Formation of the piRNA-generating loci by active individual TEs provides a more potent silencing response to the TE expansion. Like all piRNA clusters, individual TEs are also capable of triggering the production of endogenous small interfering (endo-si) RNAs. Small RNA production by individual TEs spreads into the flanking genomic regions including coding cellular genes. We show that formation of TE-associated small RNA clusters can down-regulate expression of nearby genes in ovaries. Integration of TEs into the 3' untranslated region of actively transcribed genes induces piRNA production towards the 3'-end of transcripts, causing the appearance of genic piRNA clusters, a phenomenon that has been reported in different organisms. These data suggest a significant role of TE-associated small RNAs in the evolution of regulatory networks in the germline.
Project description:Nuclear small RNA pathways safeguard genome integrity by establishing transcription-repressing heterochromatin at transposable elements. This inevitably also targets the transposon-rich source loci of the small RNAs themselves. How small RNA source loci are efficiently transcribed while transposon promoters are potently silenced, is not understood. Here, we show that transcription of Drosophila piRNA clusters—small RNA source loci in animal gonads—is enforced through RNA Polymerase II pre-initiation complex formation within repressive heterochromatin. This is accomplished through the TFIIA-L paralog Moonshiner, which is recruited to piRNA clusters via the Heterochromatin Protein-1 variant Rhino. Moonshiner triggers transcription initiation within piRNA clusters by recruiting the TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-related factor TRF2, an animal TFIID core variant. Thus, transcription of heterochromatic small RNA source loci relies on direct recruitment of the core transcriptional machinery to DNA via histone marks rather than sequence motifs, a concept that we argue is a recurring theme in evolution.
Project description:The piRNA pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile genetic elements in animal germlines. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNAs are produced from discrete genomic loci, called piRNA clusters, which are composed of inactive transposon copies and fragments and thus constitute a genetically encoded memory of past transposon challenges. Two types of piRNA clusters exist in flies: dual-strand clusters, expressed only in the germline via a highly specialised machinery, and uni-strand cluster, which are predominantly expressed in the somatic follicle cells. Flamenco (flam) is the major uni-strand piRNA cluster in Drosophila, giving rise to the majority of somatic piRNAs. Flam resembles a canonical RNA polymerase II transcriptional unit, nonetheless it can be specifically recognised by the piRNA pathway and directed to the biogenesis machinery. Recent work has implicated the RNA helicase Yb in the licensing of somatic piRNA production, however a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flam export and specification is still lacking. Here, we show that flam export triggers the assembly of peri-nuclear condensates of Yb and provide evidence that piRNA production from flam specifically requires subunits of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). In the absence of some NPC subunits, transposons become de-silenced and piRNA biogenesis is compromised exclusively from flam. We also show that Yb transiently associates with the NPC to promote flam export. Taken together, our data shed light on how the export of uni-strand cluster transcripts is achieved and suggest the evolution of a specialised machinery that couples transcription, nuclear export and piRNA production.
Project description:The piRNA pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile genetic elements in animal germlines. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNAs are produced from discrete genomic loci, called piRNA clusters, which are composed of inactive transposon copies and fragments and thus constitute a genetically encoded memory of past transposon challenges. Two types of piRNA clusters exist in flies: dual-strand clusters, expressed only in the germline via a highly specialised machinery, and uni-strand cluster, which are predominantly expressed in the somatic follicle cells. Flamenco (flam) is the major uni-strand piRNA cluster in Drosophila, giving rise to the majority of somatic piRNAs. Flam resembles a canonical RNA polymerase II transcriptional unit, nonetheless it can be specifically recognised by the piRNA pathway and directed to the biogenesis machinery. Recent work has implicated the RNA helicase Yb in the licensing of somatic piRNA production, however a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flam export and specification is still lacking. Here, we show that flam export triggers the assembly of peri-nuclear condensates of Yb and provide evidence that piRNA production from flam specifically requires subunits of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). In the absence of some NPC subunits, transposons become de-silenced and piRNA biogenesis is compromised exclusively from flam. We also show that Yb transiently associates with the NPC to promote flam export. Taken together, our data shed light on how the export of uni-strand cluster transcripts is achieved and suggest the evolution of a specialised machinery that couples transcription, nuclear export and piRNA production.
Project description:The piRNA pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that silences mobile genetic elements in animal germlines. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNAs are produced from discrete genomic loci, called piRNA clusters, which are composed of inactive transposon copies and fragments and thus constitute a genetically encoded memory of past transposon challenges. Two types of piRNA clusters exist in flies: dual-strand clusters, expressed only in the germline via a highly specialised machinery, and uni-strand cluster, which are predominantly expressed in the somatic follicle cells. Flamenco (flam) is the major uni-strand piRNA cluster in Drosophila, giving rise to the majority of somatic piRNAs. Flam resembles a canonical RNA polymerase II transcriptional unit, nonetheless it can be specifically recognised by the piRNA pathway and directed to the biogenesis machinery. Recent work has implicated the RNA helicase Yb in the licensing of somatic piRNA production, however a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flam export and specification is still lacking. Here, we show that flam export triggers the assembly of peri-nuclear condensates of Yb and provide evidence that piRNA production from flam specifically requires subunits of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC). In the absence of some NPC subunits, transposons become de-silenced and piRNA biogenesis is compromised exclusively from flam. We also show that Yb transiently associates with the NPC to promote flam export. Taken together, our data shed light on how the export of uni-strand cluster transcripts is achieved and suggest the evolution of a specialised machinery that couples transcription, nuclear export and piRNA production.
2021-04-16 | PXD019671 | Pride
Project description:Evolution of piRNA clusters in the Drosophila melanogaster ovary
Project description:The control of transposable element (TE) activity in germ cells provides genome integrity over generations. A distinct small RNA-mediated pathway utilizing Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) suppresses TE expression in gonads of metazoans. In the fly, primary piRNAs derive from so-called piRNA clusters, which are enriched in damaged repeated sequences. These piRNAs launch a cycle of TE and piRNA cluster transcript cleavages resulting in the amplification of piRNA and TE silencing. Using genome-wide comparison of TE insertions and ovarian small RNA libraries from two Drosophila strains, we found that individual TEs inserted into euchromatic loci form novel dual-stranded piRNA clusters. Formation of the piRNA-generating loci by active individual TEs provides a more potent silencing response to the TE expansion. Like all piRNA clusters, individual TEs are also capable of triggering the production of endogenous small interfering (endo-si) RNAs. Small RNA production by individual TEs spreads into the flanking genomic regions including coding cellular genes. We show that formation of TE-associated small RNA clusters can down-regulate expression of nearby genes in ovaries. Integration of TEs into the 3' untranslated region of actively transcribed genes induces piRNA production towards the 3'-end of transcripts, causing the appearance of genic piRNA clusters, a phenomenon that has been reported in different organisms. These data suggest a significant role of TE-associated small RNAs in the evolution of regulatory networks in the germline. The fractions of small RNAs (19-29 nt) from ovaries of y[1]; cn[1] bw[1] sp[1] line of Drosophila melanogaster were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000.
Project description:Nuclear small RNA pathways safeguard genome integrity by establishing transcription-repressing heterochromatin at transposable elements. This inevitably also targets the transposon-rich source loci of the small RNAs themselves. How small RNA source loci are efficiently transcribed while transposon promoters are potently silenced, is not understood. Here, we show that transcription of Drosophila piRNA clusters—major small RNA source loci in the animal germline—is enforced through formation of the RNA Polymerase II pre-initiation complex within repressive heterochromatin. This is accomplished through the TFIIA-L paralog Moonshiner, which is recruited to piRNA clusters via the Heterochromatin Protein-1 variant Rhino. Moonshiner triggers transcription initiation within piRNA clusters by recruiting the TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-related factor TRF2, a conserved animal TFIID core variant. Our work reveals that transcription of heterochromatic small RNA source loci relies on direct recruitment of the core transcriptional machinery to DNA via histone marks rather than sequence motifs, a concept that we argue is a recurring theme in evolution.