Project description:Endogenous RNA-directed RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are cellular components capable of synthesizing new complementary RNAs from existing RNA templates. We present evidence for successive engagement of two different RdRPs in an endogenous siRNA-based mechanism targeting specific mRNAs in C. elegans soma. In the initiation stage of this process, a group of mRNA species are chosen as targets for downregulation, leading to accumulation of rare 26-nt 5'-phosphorylated antisense RNAs that depend on the RdRP homolog RRF-3, the argonaute ERGO-1, DICER, and a series of associated (ERI) factors. This primary process leads to production of a much more abundant class of 22-nt antisense RNAs, dependent on a secondary RdRP (RRF-1) and associating with at least one distinct Argonaute (NRDE-3). The requirement for two RdRP/Argonaute combinations and initiation by a rare class of uniquely-structured siRNAs in this pathway illustrate the caution and flexibility used as biological systems exploit the physiological copying of RNA.
Project description:Endogenous RNA-directed RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are cellular components capable of synthesizing new complementary RNAs from existing RNA templates. We present evidence for successive engagement of two different RdRPs in an endogenous siRNA-based mechanism targeting specific mRNAs in C. elegans soma. In the initiation stage of this process, a group of mRNA species are chosen as targets for downregulation, leading to accumulation of rare 26-nt 5'-phosphorylated antisense RNAs that depend on the RdRP homolog RRF-3, the argonaute ERGO-1, DICER, and a series of associated (ERI) factors. This primary process leads to production of a much more abundant class of 22-nt antisense RNAs, dependent on a secondary RdRP (RRF-1) and associating with at least one distinct Argonaute (NRDE-3). The requirement for two RdRP/Argonaute combinations and initiation by a rare class of uniquely-structured siRNAs in this pathway illustrate the caution and flexibility used as biological systems exploit the physiological copying of RNA. 24 small RNA and 2 polyA RNA samples
Project description:DICER has a well-characterized role in the processing of microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNA) that are important for post-transcriptional gene regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that DICER also has several non-canonical functions beyond miRNA/siRNA biogenesis, for example in transcriptional gene silencing at the chromatin level, as well as in RNA degradation and maintenance of genomic integrity. We have shown that the function of DICER in germ cells is essential for normal spermatogenesis; male mice lacking DICER in postnatal male germ cells are infertile due to severe defects in haploid differentiation. To better understand the function of DICER in male germ cells, we immunoprecipitated DICER from juvenile mouse testes and performed mass spectrometric analysis to identify DICER-interacting proteins.
Project description:Analysis of miRNA-targeted cellular NMD substrates in HeLa cell. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that endogenous NMD substrates containing long 3' untranslated region may targeted for miRNA. Results provide important information expanding the roles of miRISC in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression: a new cross-talk between miRNA-mediated gene silencing and NMD. ABSTRACT: Imperfect base-pairing between microRNA (miRNA) and the 3â-untranslated region (3âUTR) of target mRNA triggers translational repression of the target mRNA. Here, we provide evidence that human Argonaute 2 (Ago2) targets cap-binding protein (CBP)80/20- and exon junction complex (EJC)-bound mRNAs and inhibits nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which is tightly restricted to CBP80/20-bound mRNAs. Furthermore, microarray analyses reveal that a subset of cellular transcripts, which are expected to be targeted for NMD, is stabilized by miRNA-mediated gene silencing. The regulation of NMD by miRNAs will shed light on a new post-transcriptional regulation mechanism of gene expression in mammalian cells Total RNA obtained from HeLa cells with downregulation of Ago2 or Ago2/UPF1 by siRNA. The up- or down-regulated transcripts were compared to control siRNA treated HeLa cell RNA extract. Significant transcripts were confirmed by replication.
Project description:RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent mechanism for down-regulating gene expression. Conserved RNAi pathway components are found in animals, plants, fungi and other eukaryotes. In C. elegans, the RNAi response is greatly amplified by the synthesis of abundant secondary siRNAs. Exogenous double stranded RNA is processed by Dicer and RDE-1/Argonaute into primary siRNA that guides target mRNA recognition. The RDE-10/RDE-11 complex and the RNA dependent RNA polymerase RRF-1 then engage the target mRNA for secondary siRNA synthesis. However, the molecular link between primary siRNA production and secondary siRNA synthesis remains largely unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear if the sub-cellular sites for target mRNA recognition and degradation coincide with sites where siRNA synthesis and amplification occur. In the C. elegans germline, cytoplasmic P granules at the nuclear pores and perinuclear Mutator foci contribute to target mRNA surveillance and siRNA amplification, respectively. We report that RDE-12, a conserved FG domain containing DEAD-box helicase, localizes in P-granules and cytoplasmic foci that are enriched in RSD-6 but are excluded from the Mutator foci. Our results suggest that RDE-12 promotes secondary siRNA synthesis by orchestrating the recruitment of RDE-10 and RRF-1 to primary siRNA targeted mRNA in distinct cytoplasmic compartments. Examination of exogenous dsRNA trigger derived siRNA in wildtype and rde-12 mutant animals
Project description:To determine the spectrum of miRNA targets regulated following Dicer deletion, we performed argonaute 2 (AGO2)-RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP)-microarray in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from LysM-Cre/Dicerflox/flox/Apoe–/– and LysM-Cre/Dicerwt/wt/Apoe–/– mice. This analysis combined with miRNA profiling in Dicer wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) BMDMs may help to identify the miRNA targets regulated by Dicer deletion.
Project description:RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent mechanism for down-regulating gene expression. Conserved RNAi pathway components are found in animals, plants, fungi and other eukaryotes. In C. elegans, the RNAi response is greatly amplified by the synthesis of abundant secondary siRNAs. Exogenous double stranded RNA is processed by Dicer and RDE-1/Argonaute into primary siRNA that guides target mRNA recognition. The RDE-10/RDE-11 complex and the RNA dependent RNA polymerase RRF-1 then engage the target mRNA for secondary siRNA synthesis. However, the molecular link between primary siRNA production and secondary siRNA synthesis remains largely unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear if the sub-cellular sites for target mRNA recognition and degradation coincide with sites where siRNA synthesis and amplification occur. In the C. elegans germline, cytoplasmic P granules at the nuclear pores and perinuclear Mutator foci contribute to target mRNA surveillance and siRNA amplification, respectively. We report that RDE-12, a conserved FG domain containing DEAD-box helicase, localizes in P-granules and cytoplasmic foci that are enriched in RSD-6 but are excluded from the Mutator foci. Our results suggest that RDE-12 promotes secondary siRNA synthesis by orchestrating the recruitment of RDE-10 and RRF-1 to primary siRNA targeted mRNA in distinct cytoplasmic compartments.
Project description:Pathways underlying miRNA biogenesis, degradation, and activity were established early in land plant evolution, but the 24-nt siRNA pathway that guides DNA methylation was incomplete in early land plants, especially lycophytes. We show that the functional diversification of key gene families such as DICER-LIKE and ARGONAUTE (AGO) as observed in angiosperms occurred early in land plants followed by parallel expansion of the AGO family in ferns and angiosperms. We uncovered an unexpected AGO family specific to lycophytes and ferns. Our phylogenetic analyses of miRNAs in lycophytes, bryophytes, ferns, and angiosperms refined the temporal origination of conserved miRNA families in land plants.
Project description:Human adenovirus 5 encodes a small set of miRNAs, which are generated by DICER-mediated processing of 2 larger precursors, the so-called virus-associated RNAs I and II. To identify targets of one of the major miRNA isoforms derived from virus-associated RNAI (mivaRNAI-137), we isolated Argonaute complexes of mivaRNAI-137-transfected cells and analyzed co-purifying RNAs by microarray analysis. RNAs enriched in Argonaute complexes of mivaRNAI-137-transfected cells compared to cells transfected with a control siRNA were identified and subjected to further validation. RNAs specifically associated with Argonaute-containining complexes of adenovirus 5-infected cells were identified as well.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous, non-protein coding RNAs that are an important means of post-transcriptional gene regulation. Deletion of Dicer, a key miRNA processing enzyme, is embryonic lethal in mice, and tissue-specific Dicer deletion results in developmental defects. Using a conditional knockout model, we generated mice lacking Dicer in the adrenal cortex. These Dicer knockout (KO) mice exhibited perinatal mortality and failure of the adrenal cortex during late gestation between embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5) and E18.5. Further study of Dicer KO adrenals demonstrated a significant loss of Sf1 expressing cortical cells that was histologically evident as early as E16.5 coincident with an increase in p21 and cleaved-caspase 3 staining in the cortex. However, peripheral cortical proliferation persisted in KO adrenals as assessed by anti-PCNA staining. To further characterize the embryonic adrenals from Dicer KO mice, we performed microarray analyses for both gene expression and miRNA on purified RNA isolated from control and KO adrenals of E15.5 and E16.5 embryos. Consistent with the absence of Dicer and the associated loss of miRNA-mediated mRNA degradation, we observed an up-regulation of a small subset of adrenal transcripts in Dicer KO mice, most notably the transcripts coded by the genes Nr6a1 and Acvr1c. Indeed, several miRNAs, including let-7, miR-34c, and miR-21 that are predicted to target these genes for degradation, were also markedly down-regulated in Dicer KO adrenals. Together these data suggest a role for miRNA mediated regulation of a subset of genes that are essential for normal adrenal growth and homeostasis. Adrenals from control and Dicer KO litter mates were pooled separately from 4 individual litters, resulting in a total of 4 control (cre-) and 4 Dicer KO biological replicates at both E15.5 and E16.5.