Project description:To characterize the role of the ERI-6/7 helicase in endogenous small RNA pathways in C. elegans, small RNA populations from null alleles of eri-6 and eri-7, and from mutants of known endogenous RNAi pathway factors, eri-1 and ergo-1, were determined by deep sequencing, and compared to wild type.
Project description:To characterize the role of the ERI-6/7 helicase in endogenous small RNA pathways in C. elegans, small RNA populations from null alleles of eri-6 and eri-7, and from mutants of known endogenous RNAi pathway factors, eri-1 and ergo-1, were determined by deep sequencing, and compared to wild type. Small RNA analysis in wild type and eri-1, ergo-1, eri-6 and eri-7 mutant C. elegans strains.
Project description:ERI-6/7 is a negative regulator of exogenous RNAi, however the function of SOSI-1 has never previously been characterized. We noticed that expression of sosi-1 and eri-6/7 are mutually exclusive. Due to its genomic locus being nested within the eri-6 locus, we hypothesized that sosi-1 could be acting as a regulator of ERI-6/7 function by disrupting eri-6/7 expression upon sensing changes in the production of MUT-16-dependent 22G siRNAs. Our data confirms that expression of the sosi-1 mRNA is regulated by MUT-16-dependent 22G siRNAs. In addition, we show here that the expression of the eri-6 and eri-7 pre-mRNAs, and thus the eri-6/7 trans-spliced mRNA, are mis-regulated upon loss of sosi-1-targeting and eri-6[e-f]-targeting MUT-16-dependent 22G siRNAs, suggesting that sosi-1 and eri-6[e-f] act as a feedback sensor for small RNA function.
Project description:Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) and other small regulatory RNAs contribute to the modulation of a large number of cellular processes. We sequenced three total RNA libraries prepared from the whole body, and the anterior and posterior silk glands of Bombyx mori, with a view to expanding the repertoire of silkworm miRNAs and exploring transcriptional differences in miRNAs between segments of the silk gland. Results: With the aid of large-scale Solexa sequencing technology, we validated 244 unique miRNA genes, including 191 novel and 53 previously reported genes, corresponding to 309 loci in the silkworm genome. Interestingly, 24 unique miRNAs were widely conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates; 12 unique ones were limited to invertebrates and 33 were confined to insects; whereas the majority of the newly identified miRNAs were silkworm-specific. We identified 21 clusters and 42 paralogs of miRNAs in the silkworm genome. However, sequence tags showed that paralogs or clusters are not prerequisites for coordinated transcription and accumulation. The majority of silkworm-specific miRNAs are located in transposable elements, and display significant differences in abundance between the anterior and posterior silk glands. Conclusions: Conservative analysis revealed that miRNAs serve as phylogenetic markers and function in evolutionary signaling. The newly identified miRNAs greatly enriched the repertoire of insect miRNAs, and provide insights into miRNA evolution, biogenesis, and expression in insects. The differential expression of miRNAs in the anterior and posterior silk glands supports their involvement as new layers in the regulation of the silkworm silk gland. Sequencing three total RNA pools of the whole silkworm body from 5th-instar day-3 larvae, and anterior and posterior silkworm silk glands, using the latest sequencing Solexa technology
Project description:Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) and other small regulatory RNAs contribute to the modulation of a large number of cellular processes. We sequenced three total RNA libraries prepared from the whole body, and the anterior and posterior silk glands of Bombyx mori, with a view to expanding the repertoire of silkworm miRNAs and exploring transcriptional differences in miRNAs between segments of the silk gland. Results: With the aid of large-scale Solexa sequencing technology, we validated 244 unique miRNA genes, including 191 novel and 53 previously reported genes, corresponding to 309 loci in the silkworm genome. Interestingly, 24 unique miRNAs were widely conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates; 12 unique ones were limited to invertebrates and 33 were confined to insects; whereas the majority of the newly identified miRNAs were silkworm-specific. We identified 21 clusters and 42 paralogs of miRNAs in the silkworm genome. However, sequence tags showed that paralogs or clusters are not prerequisites for coordinated transcription and accumulation. The majority of silkworm-specific miRNAs are located in transposable elements, and display significant differences in abundance between the anterior and posterior silk glands. Conclusions: Conservative analysis revealed that miRNAs serve as phylogenetic markers and function in evolutionary signaling. The newly identified miRNAs greatly enriched the repertoire of insect miRNAs, and provide insights into miRNA evolution, biogenesis, and expression in insects. The differential expression of miRNAs in the anterior and posterior silk glands supports their involvement as new layers in the regulation of the silkworm silk gland.