1
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Chou HT, Valencia F, Alexander JC, Bell AD, Deb D, Pollard DA, Paaby AB. Diversification of small RNA pathways underlies germline RNA interference incompetence in wild Caenorhabditis elegans strains. Genetics 2024; 226:iyad191. [PMID: 37865119 PMCID: PMC10763538 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery that experimental delivery of dsRNA can induce gene silencing at target genes revolutionized genetics research, by both uncovering essential biological processes and creating new tools for developmental geneticists. However, the efficacy of exogenous RNA interference (RNAi) varies dramatically within the Caenorhabditis elegans natural population, raising questions about our understanding of RNAi in the lab relative to its activity and significance in nature. Here, we investigate why some wild strains fail to mount a robust RNAi response to germline targets. We observe diversity in mechanism: in some strains, the response is stochastic, either on or off among individuals, while in others, the response is consistent but delayed. Increased activity of the Argonaute PPW-1, which is required for germline RNAi in the laboratory strain N2, rescues the response in some strains but dampens it further in others. Among wild strains, genes known to mediate RNAi exhibited very high expression variation relative to other genes in the genome as well as allelic divergence and strain-specific instances of pseudogenization at the sequence level. Our results demonstrate functional diversification in the small RNA pathways in C. elegans and suggest that RNAi processes are evolving rapidly and dynamically in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Ting Chou
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Francisco Valencia
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jacqueline C Alexander
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Avery Davis Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Diptodip Deb
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Daniel A Pollard
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
| | - Annalise B Paaby
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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2
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Rieger I, Weintraub G, Lev I, Goldstein K, Bar-Zvi D, Anava S, Gingold H, Shaham S, Rechavi O. Nucleus-independent transgenerational small RNA inheritance in Caenorhabditis elegans. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj8618. [PMID: 37878696 PMCID: PMC10599617 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj8618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
In Caenorhabditis elegans worms, epigenetic information transmits transgenerationally. Still, it is unknown whether the effects transfer to the next generation inside or outside of the nucleus. Here, we use the tractability of gene-specific double-stranded RNA-induced silencing to demonstrate that RNA interference can be inherited independently of any nuclear factors via mothers that are genetically engineered to transmit only their ooplasm but not the oocytes' nuclei to the next generation. We characterize the mechanisms and, using RNA sequencing, chimeric worms, and sequence polymorphism between different isolates, identify endogenous small RNAs which, similarly to exogenous siRNAs, are inherited in a nucleus-independent manner. From a historical perspective, these results might be regarded as partial vindication of discredited cytoplasmic inheritance theories from the 19th century, such as Darwin's "pangenesis" theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Rieger
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Guy Weintraub
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Itamar Lev
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Kesem Goldstein
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dana Bar-Zvi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarit Anava
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hila Gingold
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shai Shaham
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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3
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Liontis T, Verma K, Grishok A. DOT-1.1 (DOT1L) deficiency in C. elegans leads to small RNA-dependent gene activation. BBA ADVANCES 2023; 3:100080. [PMID: 37082252 PMCID: PMC10074844 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2023.100080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylation of histone H3 at lysine 79 (H3K79) is conserved from yeast to humans and is accomplished by Dot1 (disruptor of telomeric silencing-1) methyltransferases. The C. elegans enzyme DOT-1.1 and its interacting partners are similar to the mammalian DOT1L (Dot1-like) complex. The C. elegans DOT-1.1 complex has been functionally connected to RNA interference. Specifically, we have previously shown that embryonic and larval lethality of dot-1.1 mutant worms deficient in H3K79 methylation was suppressed by mutations in the RNAi pathway genes responsible for generation (rde-4) and function (rde-1) of primary small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). This suggests that dot-1.1 mutant lethality is dependent on the enhanced production of some siRNAs. We have also found that this lethality is suppressed by a loss-of-function of CED-3, a conserved apoptotic protease. Here, we describe a comparison of gene expression and primary siRNA production changes between control and dot-1.1 deletion mutant embryos. We found that elevated antisense siRNA production occurred more often at upregulated than downregulated genes. Importantly, gene expression changes were dependent on RDE-4 in both instances. Moreover, the upregulated group, which is potentially activated by ectopic siRNAs, was enriched in protease-coding genes. Our findings are consistent with a model where in the absence of H3K79 methylation there is a small RNA-dependent activation of protease genes, which leads to embryonic and larval lethality. DOT1 enzymes' conservation suggests that the interplay between H3K79 methylation and small RNA pathways may exist in higher organisms.
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4
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Ohno H, Bao Z. Small RNAs couple embryonic developmental programs to gut microbes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl7663. [PMID: 35319987 PMCID: PMC8942359 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl7663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Embryogenesis has long been known for its robustness to environmental factors. Although developmental tuning of embryogenesis to the environment experienced by the parent may be beneficial, little is understood on whether and how developmental patterns proactively change. Here, we show that Caenorhabditis elegans undergoes alternative embryogenesis in response to maternal gut microbes. Harmful microbes result in altered endodermal cell divisions; morphological changes, including left-right asymmetric development; double association between intestinal and primordial germ cells; and partial rescue of fecundity. The miR-35 microRNA family, which is controlled by systemic endogenous RNA interference and targets the β-transducin repeat-containing protein/cell division cycle 25 (CDC25) pathway, transmits intergenerational information to regulate cell divisions and reproduction. Our findings challenge the widespread assumption that C. elegans has an invariant cell lineage that consists of a fixed cell number and provide insights into how organisms optimize embryogenesis to adapt to environmental changes through epigenetic control.
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5
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Quarato P, Singh M, Bourdon L, Cecere G. Inheritance and maintenance of small RNA-mediated epigenetic effects. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2100284. [PMID: 35338497 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Heritable traits are predominantly encoded within genomic DNA, but it is now appreciated that epigenetic information is also inherited through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small RNAs. Several examples of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of traits have been documented in plants and animals. These include even the inheritance of traits acquired through the soma during the life of an organism, implicating the transfer of epigenetic information via the germline to the next generation. Small RNAs appear to play a significant role in carrying epigenetic information across generations. This review focuses on how epigenetic information in the form of small RNAs is transmitted from the germline to the embryos through the gametes. We also consider how inherited epigenetic information is maintained across generations in a small RNA-dependent and independent manner. Finally, we discuss how epigenetic traits acquired from the soma can be inherited through small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piergiuseppe Quarato
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| | - Meetali Singh
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| | - Loan Bourdon
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| | - Germano Cecere
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
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6
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Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has shed light on many aspects of eukaryotic biology, including genetics, development, cell biology, and genomics. A major factor in the success of C. elegans as a model organism has been the availability, since the late 1990s, of an essentially gap-free and well-annotated nuclear genome sequence, divided among 6 chromosomes. In this review, we discuss the structure, function, and biology of C. elegans chromosomes and then provide a general perspective on chromosome biology in other diverse nematode species. We highlight malleable chromosome features including centromeres, telomeres, and repetitive elements, as well as the remarkable process of programmed DNA elimination (historically described as chromatin diminution) that induces loss of portions of the genome in somatic cells of a handful of nematode species. An exciting future prospect is that nematode species may enable experimental approaches to study chromosome features and to test models of chromosome evolution. In the long term, fundamental insights regarding how speciation is integrated with chromosome biology may be revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Carlton
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Richard E Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80045, USA.,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Shawn Ahmed
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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7
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Zagoskin MV, Wang J, Neff AT, Veronezi GMB, Davis RE. Small RNA pathways in the nematode Ascaris in the absence of piRNAs. Nat Commun 2022; 13:837. [PMID: 35149688 PMCID: PMC8837657 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28482-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Small RNA pathways play key and diverse regulatory roles in C. elegans, but our understanding of their conservation and contributions in other nematodes is limited. We analyzed small RNA pathways in the divergent parasitic nematode Ascaris. Ascaris has ten Argonautes with five worm-specific Argonautes (WAGOs) that associate with secondary 5’-triphosphate 22-24G-RNAs. These small RNAs target repetitive sequences or mature mRNAs and are similar to the C. elegans mutator, nuclear, and CSR-1 small RNA pathways. Even in the absence of a piRNA pathway, Ascaris CSR-1 may still function to “license” as well as fine-tune or repress gene expression. Ascaris ALG-4 and its associated 26G-RNAs target and likely repress specific mRNAs during testis meiosis. Ascaris WAGO small RNAs demonstrate target plasticity changing their targets between repeats and mRNAs during development. We provide a unique and comprehensive view of mRNA and small RNA expression throughout spermatogenesis. Overall, our study illustrates the conservation, divergence, dynamics, and flexibility of small RNA pathways in nematodes. The parasitic nematode Ascaris lacks piRNAs. Here the authors compare Argonaute proteins and small RNAs from C. elegans and Ascaris, expanding our understanding of the conservation, divergence, and flexibility of Argonautes and small RNA pathways in nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim V Zagoskin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. .,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. .,UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - Ashley T Neff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Giovana M B Veronezi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Richard E Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. .,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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8
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Abstract
DNA is central to the propagation and evolution of most living organisms due to the essential process of its self-replication. Yet it also encodes factors that permit epigenetic (not included in DNA sequence) flow of information from parents to their offspring and beyond. The known mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance include chemical modifications of DNA and chromatin, as well as regulatory RNAs. All these factors can modulate gene expression programs in the ensuing generations. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is recognized as a pioneer organism in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance research. Recent advances in C. elegans epigenetics include the discoveries of control mechanisms that limit the duration of RNA-based epigenetic inheritance, periodic DNA motifs that counteract epigenetic silencing establishment, new mechanistic insights into epigenetic inheritance carried by sperm, and the tantalizing examples of inheritance of sensory experiences. This review aims to highlight new findings in epigenetics research in C. elegans with the main focus on transgenerational epigenetic phenomena dependent on small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Grishok
- Department of Biochemistry, BU Genome Science Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St. K422, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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9
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Ow MC, Hall SE. piRNAs and endo-siRNAs: Small molecules with large roles in the nervous system. Neurochem Int 2021; 148:105086. [PMID: 34082061 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery, small non-coding RNAs have emerged as powerhouses in the regulation of numerous cellular processes. In addition to guarding the integrity of the reproductive system, small non-coding RNAs play critical roles in the maintenance of the soma. Accumulating evidence indicates that small non-coding RNAs perform vital functions in the animal nervous system such as restricting the activity of deleterious transposable elements, regulating nerve regeneration, and mediating learning and memory. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the contribution of two major classes of small non-coding RNAs, piRNAs and endo-siRNAs, to the nervous system development and function, and present highlights on how the dysregulation of small non-coding RNA pathways can assist in understanding the neuropathology of human neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Ow
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, 107 College Place, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA.
| | - Sarah E Hall
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, 107 College Place, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA.
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10
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Manterola M, Palominos MF, Calixto A. The Heritability of Behaviors Associated With the Host Gut Microbiota. Front Immunol 2021; 12:658551. [PMID: 34054822 PMCID: PMC8155505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
What defines whether the interaction between environment and organism creates a genetic memory able to be transferred to subsequent generations? Bacteria and the products of their metabolism are the most ubiquitous biotic environments to which every living organism is exposed. Both microbiota and host establish a framework where environmental and genetic factors are integrated to produce adaptive life traits, some of which can be inherited. Thus, the interplay between host and microbe is a powerful model to study how phenotypic plasticity is inherited. Communication between host and microbe can occur through diverse molecules such as small RNAs (sRNAs) and the RNA interference machinery, which have emerged as mediators and carriers of heritable environmentally induced responses. Notwithstanding, it is still unclear how the organism integrates sRNA signaling between different tissues to orchestrate a systemic bacterially induced response that can be inherited. Here we discuss current evidence of heritability produced by the intestinal microbiota from several species. Neurons and gut are the sensing systems involved in transmitting changes through transcriptional and post-transcriptional modifications to the gonads. Germ cells express inflammatory receptors, and their development and function are regulated by host and bacterial metabolites and sRNAs thus suggesting that the dynamic interplay between host and microbe underlies the host's capacity to transmit heritable behaviors. We discuss how the host detects changes in the microbiota that can modulate germ cells genomic functions. We also explore the nature of the interactions that leave permanent or long-term memory in the host and propose mechanisms by which the microbiota can regulate the development and epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells, thus influencing the inheritance of the host. We highlight the vast contribution of the bacterivore nematode C. elegans and its commensal and pathogenic bacteria to the understanding on how behavioral adaptations can be inter and transgenerational inherited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Manterola
- Programa de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M. Fernanda Palominos
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Andrea Calixto
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
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11
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Dayi M, Kanzaki N, Sun S, Ide T, Tanaka R, Masuya H, Okabe K, Kajimura H, Kikuchi T. Additional description and genome analyses of Caenorhabditis auriculariae representing the basal lineage of genus Caenorhabditis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6720. [PMID: 33762598 PMCID: PMC7991662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85967-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis auriculariae, which was morphologically described in 1999, was re-isolated from a Platydema mushroom-associated beetle. Based on the re-isolated materials, some morphological characteristics were re-examined and ascribed to the species. In addition, to clarify phylogenetic relationships with other Caenorhabditis species and biological features of the nematode, the whole genome was sequenced and assembled into 109.5 Mb with 16,279 predicted protein-coding genes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ribosomal RNA and 269 single-copy genes revealed the species is closely related to C. sonorae and C. monodelphis placing them at the most basal clade of the genus. C. auriculariae has morphological characteristics clearly differed from those two species and harbours a number of species-specific gene families, indicating its usefulness as a new outgroup species for Caenorhabditis evolutionary studies. A comparison of carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy) repertoires in genomes, which we found useful to speculate about the lifestyle of Caenorhabditis nematodes, suggested that C. auriculariae likely has a life-cycle with tight-association with insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Dayi
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kiyotakecho Kihara, Miyazaki-City, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
- Forestry Vocational School, Duzce University, 81620, Duzce, Turkey
| | - Natsumi Kanzaki
- Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 68 Nagaikyutaroh, Momoyama, Fushimi, Kyoto, 612-0855, Japan
| | - Simo Sun
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kiyotakecho Kihara, Miyazaki-City, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ide
- Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0005, Japan
| | - Ryusei Tanaka
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kiyotakecho Kihara, Miyazaki-City, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Hayato Masuya
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan
| | - Kimiko Okabe
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan
| | - Hisashi Kajimura
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Taisei Kikuchi
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kiyotakecho Kihara, Miyazaki-City, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan.
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12
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Aoki ST, Lynch TR, Crittenden SL, Bingman CA, Wickens M, Kimble J. C. elegans germ granules require both assembly and localized regulators for mRNA repression. Nat Commun 2021; 12:996. [PMID: 33579952 PMCID: PMC7881195 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21278-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic RNA-protein (RNP) granules have diverse biophysical properties, from liquid to solid, and play enigmatic roles in RNA metabolism. Nematode P granules are paradigmatic liquid droplet granules and central to germ cell development. Here we analyze a key P granule scaffolding protein, PGL-1, to investigate the functional relationship between P granule assembly and function. Using a protein-RNA tethering assay, we find that reporter mRNA expression is repressed when recruited to PGL-1. We determine the crystal structure of the PGL-1 N-terminal region to 1.5 Å, discover its dimerization, and identify key residues at the dimer interface. Mutations of those interface residues prevent P granule assembly in vivo, de-repress PGL-1 tethered mRNA, and reduce fertility. Therefore, PGL-1 dimerization lies at the heart of both P granule assembly and function. Finally, we identify the P granule-associated Argonaute WAGO-1 as crucial for repression of PGL-1 tethered mRNA. We conclude that P granule function requires both assembly and localized regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Takeo Aoki
- grid.257413.60000 0001 2287 3919Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN USA ,grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Tina R. Lynch
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Sarah L. Crittenden
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA ,grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Craig A. Bingman
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Marvin Wickens
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Judith Kimble
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA ,grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
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13
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Houri-Zeevi L, Korem Kohanim Y, Antonova O, Rechavi O. Three Rules Explain Transgenerational Small RNA Inheritance in C. elegans. Cell 2020; 182:1186-1197.e12. [PMID: 32841602 PMCID: PMC7479518 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Experiences trigger transgenerational small RNA-based responses in C. elegans nematodes. Dedicated machinery ensures that heritable effects are reset, but how the responses segregate in the population is unknown. We show that isogenic individuals differ dramatically in the persistence of transgenerational responses. By examining lineages of more than 20,000 worms, three principles emerge: (1) The silencing each mother initiates is distributed evenly among her descendants; heritable RNAi dissipates but is uniform in every generation. (2) Differences between lineages arise because the mothers that initiate heritable responses stochastically assume different "inheritance states" that determine the progeny's fate. (3) The likelihood that an RNAi response would continue to be inherited increases the more generations it lasts. The inheritance states are determined by HSF-1, which regulates silencing factors and, accordingly, small RNA levels. We found that, based on the parents' inheritance state, the descendants' developmental rate in response to stress can be predicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Houri-Zeevi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Yael Korem Kohanim
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Olga Antonova
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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14
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The critical impacts of small RNA biogenesis proteins on aging, longevity and age-related diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 62:101087. [PMID: 32497728 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Small RNAs and enzymes that provide their biogenesis and functioning are involved in the organism development and coordination of biological processes, including metabolism, maintaining genome integrity, immune and stress responses. In this review, we focused on the role of small RNA biogenesis proteins in determining the aging and longevity of animals and human. A number of studies have revealed that changes in expression profiles of key enzymes, in particular proteins of the Drosha, Dicer and Argonaute families, are associated with the aging process, as well as with some age-related diseases and progeroid syndromes. Down-regulation of small RNA biogenesis proteins leads to global alterations in the expression of regulatory RNAs, disruption of key molecular, cellular and systemic processes, which leads to a lifespan shortening. In contrast, overexpression of Dicer prolongs lifespan and improves cellular defense. Additionally, the role of small RNA biogenesis proteins in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases, including cancer, inflammaging, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune disorders, has been conclusively evidenced. Recent advances in biomedicine allow using these proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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15
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Suen KM, Braukmann F, Butler R, Bensaddek D, Akay A, Lin CC, Milonaitytė D, Doshi N, Sapetschnig A, Lamond A, Ladbury JE, Miska EA. DEPS-1 is required for piRNA-dependent silencing and PIWI condensate organisation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4242. [PMID: 32843637 PMCID: PMC7447803 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18089-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Membraneless organelles are sites for RNA biology including small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) mediated gene silencing. How small ncRNAs utilise phase separated environments for their function is unclear. We investigated how the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway engages with the membraneless organelle P granule in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proteomic analysis of the PIWI protein PRG-1 reveals an interaction with the constitutive P granule protein DEPS-1. DEPS-1 is not required for piRNA biogenesis but piRNA-dependent silencing: deps-1 mutants fail to produce the secondary endo-siRNAs required for the silencing of piRNA targets. We identify a motif on DEPS-1 which mediates a direct interaction with PRG-1. DEPS-1 and PRG-1 form intertwining clusters to build elongated condensates in vivo which are dependent on the Piwi-interacting motif of DEPS-1. Additionally, we identify EDG-1 as an interactor of DEPS-1 and PRG-1. Our study reveals how specific protein-protein interactions drive the spatial organisation and piRNA-dependent silencing within membraneless organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Man Suen
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Fabian Braukmann
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Richard Butler
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Dalila Bensaddek
- Laboratory for Quantitative Proteomics, Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
- Bioscience Core labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alper Akay
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Chi-Chuan Lin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, LC Miall Building, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Dovilė Milonaitytė
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, LC Miall Building, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Neel Doshi
- University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0SP, UK
| | | | - Angus Lamond
- Laboratory for Quantitative Proteomics, Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - John Edward Ladbury
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, LC Miall Building, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Eric Alexander Miska
- Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK.
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK.
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16
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Esse R, Grishok A. Caenorhabditis elegans Deficient in DOT-1.1 Exhibit Increases in H3K9me2 at Enhancer and Certain RNAi-Regulated Regions. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081846. [PMID: 32781660 PMCID: PMC7464606 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The methylation of histone H3 at lysine 79 is a feature of open chromatin. It is deposited by the conserved histone methyltransferase DOT1. Recently, DOT1 localization and H3K79 methylation (H3K79me) have been correlated with enhancers in C. elegans and mammalian cells. Since earlier research implicated H3K79me in preventing heterochromatin formation both in yeast and leukemic cells, we sought to inquire whether a H3K79me deficiency would lead to higher levels of heterochromatic histone modifications, specifically H3K9me2, at developmental enhancers in C. elegans. Therefore, we used H3K9me2 ChIP-seq to compare its abundance in control and dot-1.1 loss-of-function mutant worms, as well as in rde-4; dot-1.1 and rde-1; dot-1.1 double mutants. The rde-1 and rde-4 genes are components of the RNAi pathway in C. elegans, and RNAi is known to initiate H3K9 methylation in many organisms, including C. elegans. We have previously shown that dot-1.1(-) lethality is rescued by rde-1 and rde-4 loss-of-function. Here we found that H3K9me2 was elevated in enhancer, but not promoter, regions bound by the DOT-1.1/ZFP-1 complex in dot-1.1(-) worms. We also found increased H3K9me2 at genes targeted by the ALG-3/4-dependent small RNAs and repeat regions. Our results suggest that ectopic H3K9me2 in dot-1.1(-) could, in some cases, be induced by small RNAs.
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17
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Cohen-Berkman M, Dudkevich R, Ben-Hamo S, Fishman A, Salzberg Y, Waldman Ben-Asher H, Lamm AT, Henis-Korenblit S. Endogenous siRNAs promote proteostasis and longevity in germline-less Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2020; 9:e50896. [PMID: 32213289 PMCID: PMC7136021 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
How lifespan and the rate of aging are set is a key problem in biology. Small RNAs are conserved molecules that impact diverse biological processes through the control of gene expression. However, in contrast to miRNAs, the role of endo-siRNAs in aging remains unexplored. Here, by combining deep sequencing and genomic and genetic approaches in Caenorhabditis elegans, we reveal an unprecedented role for endo-siRNA molecules in the maintenance of proteostasis and lifespan extension in germline-less animals. Furthermore, we identify an endo-siRNA-regulated tyrosine phosphatase, which limits the longevity of germline-less animals by restricting the activity of the heat shock transcription factor HSF-1. Altogether, our findings point to endo-siRNAs as a link between germline removal and the HSF-1 proteostasis and longevity-promoting somatic pathway. This establishes a role for endo siRNAs in the aging process and identifies downstream genes and physiological processes that are regulated by the endo siRNAs to affect longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Cohen-Berkman
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-GanIsrael
| | - Reut Dudkevich
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-GanIsrael
| | - Shani Ben-Hamo
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-GanIsrael
| | - Alla Fishman
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Technion CityHaifaIsrael
| | - Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | | | - Ayelet T Lamm
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Technion CityHaifaIsrael
| | - Sivan Henis-Korenblit
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-GanIsrael
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18
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Gunasekera RS, Galbadage T, Ayala-Orozco C, Liu D, García-López V, Troutman BE, Tour JJ, Pal R, Krishnan S, Cirillo JD, Tour JM. Molecular Nanomachines Can Destroy Tissue or Kill Multicellular Eukaryotes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:13657-13670. [PMID: 32091877 PMCID: PMC8189693 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b22595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Light-activated molecular nanomachines (MNMs) can be used to drill holes into prokaryotic (bacterial) cell walls and the membrane of eukaryotic cells, including mammalian cancer cells, by their fast rotational movement, leading to cell death. We examined how these MNMs function in multicellular organisms and investigated their use for treatment and eradication of specific diseases by causing damage to certain tissues and small organisms. Three model eukaryotic species, Caenorhabditis elegans, Daphnia pulex, and Mus musculus (mouse), were evaluated. These organisms were exposed to light-activated fast-rotating MNMs and their physiological and pathological changes were studied in detail. Slow rotating MNMs were used to control for the effects of rotation rate. We demonstrate that fast-rotating MNMs caused depigmentation and 70% mortality in C. elegans while reducing the movement as well as heart rate and causing tissue damage in Daphnia. Topically applied light-activated MNMs on mouse skin caused ulceration and microlesions in the epithelial tissue, allowing MNMs to localize into deeper epidermal tissue. Overall, this study shows that the nanomechanical action of light-activated MNMs is effective against multicellular organisms, disrupting cell membranes and damaging tissue in vivo. Customized MNMs that target specific tissues for therapy combined with spatial and temporal control could have broad clinical applications in a variety of benign and malignant disease states including treatment of cancer, parasites, bacteria, and diseased tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thushara Galbadage
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
| | - Ciceron Ayala-Orozco
- Department of Experimental Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | | | | | | | - Josiah J Tour
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
| | - Robert Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, DH1 3LE Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Experimental Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Cirillo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
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Elucidating the molecular and developmental biology of parasitic nematodes: Moving to a multiomics paradigm. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 108:175-229. [PMID: 32291085 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the sequencing, assembly, annotation and analyses of genomes and transcriptomes of parasitic worms of socioeconomic importance. This progress has somewhat improved our knowledge and understanding of these pathogens at the molecular level. However, compared with the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the areas of functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics of parasitic nematodes are still in their infancy, and there are major gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the molecular biology of parasitic nematodes. The information on signalling molecules, molecular pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) that are known to be involved in developmental processes in C. elegans and the availability of some molecular resources (draft genomes, transcriptomes and some proteomes) for selected parasitic nematodes provide a basis to start exploring the developmental biology of parasitic nematodes. Indeed, some studies have identified molecules and pathways that might associate with developmental processes in related, parasitic nematodes, such as Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm). However, detailed information is often scant and 'omics resources are limited, preventing a proper integration of 'omic data sets and comprehensive analyses. Moreover, little is known about the functional roles of pheromones, hormones, signalling pathways and post-transcriptional/post-translational regulations in the development of key parasitic nematodes throughout their entire life cycles. Although C. elegans is an excellent model to assist molecular studies of parasitic nematodes, its use is limited when it comes to explorations of processes that are specific to parasitism within host animals. A deep understanding of parasitic nematodes, such as H. contortus, requires substantially enhanced resources and the use of integrative 'omics approaches for analyses. The improved genome and well-established in vitro larval culture system for H. contortus provide unprecedented opportunities for comprehensive studies of the transcriptomes (mRNA and miRNA), proteomes (somatic, excretory/secretory and phosphorylated proteins) and lipidomes (e.g., polar and neutral lipids) of this nematode. Such resources should enable in-depth explorations of its developmental biology at a level, not previously possible. The main aims of this review are (i) to provide a background on the development of nematodes, with a particular emphasis on the molecular aspects involved in the dauer formation and exit in C. elegans; (ii) to critically appraise the current state of knowledge of the developmental biology of parasitic nematodes and identify key knowledge gaps; (iii) to cover salient aspects of H. contortus, with a focus on the recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and lipidomics as well as in vitro culturing systems; (iv) to review recent advances in our knowledge and understanding of the molecular and developmental biology of H. contortus using an integrative multiomics approach, and discuss the implications of this approach for detailed explorations of signalling molecules, molecular processes and pathways likely associated with nematode development, adaptation and parasitism, and for the identification of novel intervention targets against these pathogens. Clearly, the multiomics approach established recently is readily applicable to exploring a wide range of interesting and socioeconomically significant parasitic worms (including also trematodes and cestodes) at the molecular level, and to elucidate host-parasite interactions and disease processes.
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20
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Serobyan V, Kontarakis Z, El-Brolosy MA, Welker JM, Tolstenkov O, Saadeldein AM, Retzer N, Gottschalk A, Wehman AM, Stainier DY. Transcriptional adaptation in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2020; 9:50014. [PMID: 31951195 PMCID: PMC6968918 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional adaptation is a recently described phenomenon by which a mutation in one gene leads to the transcriptional modulation of related genes, termed adapting genes. At the molecular level, it has been proposed that the mutant mRNA, rather than the loss of protein function, activates this response. While several examples of transcriptional adaptation have been reported in zebrafish embryos and in mouse cell lines, it is not known whether this phenomenon is observed across metazoans. Here we report transcriptional adaptation in C. elegans, and find that this process requires factors involved in mutant mRNA decay, as in zebrafish and mouse. We further uncover a requirement for Argonaute proteins and Dicer, factors involved in small RNA maturation and transport into the nucleus. Altogether, these results provide evidence for transcriptional adaptation in C. elegans, a powerful model to further investigate underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahan Serobyan
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Zacharias Kontarakis
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Mohamed A El-Brolosy
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Jordan M Welker
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Oleg Tolstenkov
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF-MC), Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Amr M Saadeldein
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Nicholas Retzer
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Alexander Gottschalk
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF-MC), Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.,Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Ann M Wehman
- Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Didier Yr Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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21
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Ravikumar S, Devanapally S, Jose AM. Gene silencing by double-stranded RNA from C. elegans neurons reveals functional mosaicism of RNA interference. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:10059-10071. [PMID: 31501873 PMCID: PMC6821342 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into animals can silence genes of matching sequence in diverse cell types through mechanisms that have been collectively called RNA interference. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, dsRNA from multiple sources can trigger the amplification of silencing signals. Amplification occurs through the production of small RNAs by two RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) that are thought to be tissue-specific - EGO-1 in the germline and RRF-1 in somatic cells. Here we demonstrate that EGO-1 can compensate for the lack of RRF-1 when dsRNA from neurons is used to silence genes in intestinal cells. However, the lineal origins of cells that can use EGO-1 varies. This variability could be because random sets of cells can either receive different amounts of dsRNA from the same source or use different RdRPs to perform the same function. Variability is masked in wild-type animals, which show extensive silencing by neuronal dsRNA. As a result, cells appear similarly functional despite underlying differences that vary from animal to animal. This functional mosaicism cautions against inferring uniformity of mechanism based on uniformity of outcome. We speculate that functional mosaicism could contribute to escape from targeted therapies and could allow developmental systems to drift over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snusha Ravikumar
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Sindhuja Devanapally
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Antony M Jose
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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22
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Esse R, Gushchanskaia ES, Lord A, Grishok A. DOT1L complex suppresses transcription from enhancer elements and ectopic RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2019; 25:1259-1273. [PMID: 31300558 PMCID: PMC6800474 DOI: 10.1261/rna.070292.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Methylation of histone H3 on lysine 79 (H3K79) by DOT1L is associated with actively transcribed genes. Earlier, we described that DOT-1.1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of mammalian DOT1L, cooperates with the chromatin-binding protein ZFP-1 (AF10 homolog) to negatively modulate transcription of highly and widely expressed target genes. Also, the reduction of ZFP-1 levels has consistently been associated with lower efficiency of RNA interference (RNAi) triggered by exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), but the reason for this is not clear. Here, we demonstrate that the DOT1L complex suppresses transcription originating from enhancer elements and antisense transcription, thus potentiating the expression of enhancer-regulated genes. We also show that worms lacking H3K79 methylation do not survive, and this lethality is suppressed by a loss of caspase-3 or Dicer complex components that initiate gene silencing response to exogenous dsRNA. Our results suggest that ectopic elevation of endogenous dsRNA directly or indirectly resulting from global misregulation of transcription in DOT1L complex mutants may engage the Dicer complex and, therefore, limit the efficiency of exogenous RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Esse
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | | | - Avery Lord
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Alla Grishok
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
- Genome Science Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
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23
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Bouyanfif A, Jayarathne S, Koboziev I, Moustaid-Moussa N. The Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model Organism to Study Metabolic Effects of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Obesity. Adv Nutr 2019; 10:165-178. [PMID: 30689684 PMCID: PMC6370270 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmy059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a complex disease that is influenced by several factors, such as diet, physical activity, developmental stage, age, genes, and their interactions with the environment. Obesity develops as a result of expansion of fat mass when the intake of energy, stored as triglycerides, exceeds its expenditure. Approximately 40% of the US population suffers from obesity, which represents a worldwide public health problem associated with chronic low-grade adipose tissue and systemic inflammation (sterile inflammation), in part due to adipose tissue expansion. In patients with obesity, energy homeostasis is further impaired by inflammation, oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. These pathologic conditions increase the risk of developing other chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and certain forms of cancer. It is well documented that several bioactive compounds such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) are able to reduce adipose and systemic inflammation and blood triglycerides and, in some cases, improve glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in vertebrate animal models of obesity. A promising model organism that is gaining tremendous interest for studies of lipid and energy metabolism is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This roundworm stores fats as droplets within its hypodermal and intestinal cells. The nematode's transparent skin enables fat droplet visualization and quantification with the use of dyes that have affinity to lipids. This article provides a review of major research over the past several years on the use of C. elegans to study the effects of ω-3 PUFAs on lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis relative to metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Bouyanfif
- Departments of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Shasika Jayarathne
- Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Cluster, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Iurii Koboziev
- Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Cluster, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Naima Moustaid-Moussa
- Departments of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Cluster, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
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24
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Weng C, Kosalka J, Berkyurek AC, Stempor P, Feng X, Mao H, Zeng C, Li WJ, Yan YH, Dong MQ, Morero NR, Zuliani C, Barabas O, Ahringer J, Guang S, Miska EA. The USTC co-opts an ancient machinery to drive piRNA transcription in C. elegans. Genes Dev 2019; 33:90-102. [PMID: 30567997 PMCID: PMC6317315 DOI: 10.1101/gad.319293.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) engage Piwi proteins to suppress transposons and nonself nucleic acids and maintain genome integrity and are essential for fertility in a variety of organisms. In Caenorhabditis elegans, most piRNA precursors are transcribed from two genomic clusters that contain thousands of individual piRNA transcription units. While a few genes have been shown to be required for piRNA biogenesis, the mechanism of piRNA transcription remains elusive. Here we used functional proteomics approaches to identify an upstream sequence transcription complex (USTC) that is essential for piRNA biogenesis. The USTC contains piRNA silencing-defective 1 (PRDE-1), SNPC-4, twenty-one-U fouled-up 4 (TOFU-4), and TOFU-5. The USTC forms unique piRNA foci in germline nuclei and coats the piRNA cluster genomic loci. USTC factors associate with the Ruby motif just upstream of type I piRNA genes. USTC factors are also mutually dependent for binding to the piRNA clusters and forming the piRNA foci. Interestingly, USTC components bind differentially to piRNAs in the clusters and other noncoding RNA genes. These results reveal the USTC as a striking example of the repurposing of a general transcription factor complex to aid in genome defense against transposons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchun Weng
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Joanna Kosalka
- Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmet C Berkyurek
- Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
| | - Przemyslaw Stempor
- Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
| | - Xuezhu Feng
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Hui Mao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Chenming Zeng
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yong-Hong Yan
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Natalia Rosalía Morero
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cecilia Zuliani
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Orsolya Barabas
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julie Ahringer
- Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
| | - Shouhong Guang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Eric A Miska
- Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
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25
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Regulating gene expression in animals through RNA endonucleolytic cleavage. Heliyon 2018; 4:e00908. [PMID: 30426105 PMCID: PMC6223193 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of any gene must be precisely controlled for appropriate function. This expression can be controlled at various levels. This includes epigenetic regulation through DNA methylation or histone modifications. At the posttranscriptional level, regulation can be via alternative splicing or controlling messenger RNA (mRNA) stability. RNA cleavage is one way to control mRNA stability. For example, microRNA (miRNA)-induced mRNA cleavage has long been recognised in plants. RNA cleavage also appears to be widespread in other kingdoms of life, and it is now clear that mRNA cleavage plays critical functions in animals. Although miRNA-induced mRNA cleavage can occur in animals, it is not a widespread mechanism. Instead, mRNA cleavage can be induced by a range of other mechanisms, including by endogenous short inhibitory RNAs (endo-siRNAs), as well as the Ribonuclease III (RNase III) enzymes Drosha and Dicer. In addition, RNA cleavage induced by endo-siRNAs and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) is important for genome defence against transposons. Moreover, several RNase has been identified as important antiviral mediators. In this review, we will discuss these various RNA endonucleolytic cleavage mechanisms utilised by animals to regulate the expression of genes and as a defence against retrotransposons and viral infection.
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26
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Frézal L, Demoinet E, Braendle C, Miska E, Félix MA. Natural Genetic Variation in a Multigenerational Phenotype in C. elegans. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2588-2596.e8. [PMID: 30078564 PMCID: PMC6984962 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Although heredity mostly relies on the transmission of DNA sequence, additional molecular and cellular features are heritable across several generations. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, insights into such unconventional inheritance result from two lines of work. First, the mortal germline (Mrt) phenotype was defined as a multigenerational phenotype whereby a selfing lineage becomes sterile after several generations, implying multigenerational memory [1, 2]. Second, certain RNAi effects are heritable over several generations in the absence of the initial trigger [3-5]. Both lines of work converged when the subset of Mrt mutants that are heat sensitive were found to closely correspond to mutants defective in the RNAi-inheritance machinery, including histone modifiers [6-9]. Here, we report the surprising finding that several C. elegans wild isolates display a heat-sensitive mortal germline phenotype in laboratory conditions: upon chronic exposure to higher temperatures, such as 25°C, lines reproducibly become sterile after several generations. This phenomenon is reversible, as it can be suppressed by temperature alternations at each generation, suggesting a non-genetic basis for the sterility. We tested whether natural variation in the temperature-induced Mrt phenotype was of genetic nature by building recombinant inbred lines between the isolates MY10 (Mrt) and JU1395 (non-Mrt). Using bulk segregant analysis, we detected two quantitative trait loci. After further recombinant mapping and genome editing, we identified the major causal locus as a polymorphism in the set-24 gene, encoding a SET- and SPK-domain protein. We conclude that C. elegans natural populations may harbor natural genetic variation in epigenetic inheritance phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Frézal
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSERM, École Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences et Lettres, Paris, France; Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | | | | | - Eric Miska
- Wellcome Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Marie-Anne Félix
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INSERM, École Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences et Lettres, Paris, France.
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27
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Fishman A, Light D, Lamm AT. QsRNA-seq: a method for high-throughput profiling and quantifying small RNAs. Genome Biol 2018; 19:113. [PMID: 30107842 PMCID: PMC6090667 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to profile and quantify small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), using high-throughput sequencing is challenging because of their small size. We developed QsRNA-seq, a method for preparation of sRNA libraries for high-throughput sequencing that overcomes this difficulty by enabling a gel-free separation of fragments shorter than 100 nt that differ only by 20 nt in length. The method allows the use of unique molecular identifiers for quantification and is more amenable to automation than gel-based methods. We show that QsRNA-seq gives very accurate, comprehensive, and reproducible results by looking at miRNAs in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos and larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Fishman
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dean Light
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ayelet T Lamm
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
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28
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Abstract
Since 1999, Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively used to study microbe-host interactions due to its simple culture, genetic tractability, and susceptibility to numerous bacterial and fungal pathogens. In contrast, virus studies have been hampered by a lack of convenient virus infection models in nematodes. The recent discovery of a natural viral pathogen of C. elegans and development of diverse artificial infection models are providing new opportunities to explore virus-host interplay in this powerful model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don B Gammon
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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29
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Minkina O, Hunter CP. Intergenerational Transmission of Gene Regulatory Information in Caenorhabditis elegans. Trends Genet 2017; 34:54-64. [PMID: 29103876 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms can stably maintain gene expression states even after the initiating conditions have changed. Often epigenetic information is transmitted only to daughter cells, but evidence is emerging, in both vertebrate and invertebrate systems, for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), the transmission of epigenetic gene regulatory information across generations. Each new description of TEI helps uncover the properties, molecular mechanisms and biological roles for TEI. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been particularly instrumental in the effort to understand TEI, as multiple environmental and genetic triggers can initiate an epigenetic signal that can alter the expression of both transgenes and endogenous loci. Here, we review recent studies of TEI in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Minkina
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Craig P Hunter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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30
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Raman P, Zaghab SM, Traver EC, Jose AM. The double-stranded RNA binding protein RDE-4 can act cell autonomously during feeding RNAi in C. elegans. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:8463-8473. [PMID: 28541563 PMCID: PMC5737277 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can silence genes of matching sequence upon ingestion in many invertebrates and is therefore being developed as a pesticide. Such feeding RNA interference (RNAi) is best understood in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, where the dsRNA-binding protein RDE-4 initiates silencing by recruiting an endonuclease to process long dsRNA into short dsRNA. These short dsRNAs are thought to move between cells because muscle-specific rescue of rde-4 using repetitive transgenes enables silencing in other tissues. Here, we extend this observation using additional promoters, report an inhibitory effect of repetitive transgenes, and discover conditions for cell-autonomous silencing in animals with tissue-specific rescue of rde-4. While expression of rde-4(+) in intestine, hypodermis, or neurons using a repetitive transgene can enable silencing also in unrescued tissues, silencing can be inhibited wihin tissues that express a repetitive transgene. Single-copy transgenes that express rde-4(+) in body-wall muscles or hypodermis, however, enable silencing selectively in the rescued tissue but not in other tissues. These results suggest that silencing by the movement of short dsRNA between cells is not an obligatory feature of feeding RNAi in C. elegans. We speculate that similar control of dsRNA movement could modulate tissue-specific silencing by feeding RNAi in other invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravrutha Raman
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Soriayah M Zaghab
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Edward C Traver
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Antony M Jose
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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31
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Brown KC, Svendsen JM, Tucci RM, Montgomery BE, Montgomery TA. ALG-5 is a miRNA-associated Argonaute required for proper developmental timing in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Nucleic Acids Res 2017. [PMID: 28645154 PMCID: PMC5587817 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans contains 25 Argonautes, of which, ALG-1 and ALG-2 are known to primarily interact with miRNAs. ALG-5 belongs to the AGO subfamily of Argonautes that includes ALG-1 and ALG-2, but its role in small RNA pathways is unknown. We analyzed by high-throughput sequencing the small RNAs associated with ALG-5, ALG-1 and ALG-2, as well as changes in mRNA expression in alg-5, alg-1 and alg-2 mutants. We show that ALG-5 defines a distinct branch of the miRNA pathway affecting the expression of genes involved in immunity, defense, and development. In contrast to ALG-1 and ALG-2, which associate with most miRNAs and have general roles throughout development, ALG-5 interacts with only a small subset of miRNAs and is specifically expressed in the germline where it localizes alongside the piRNA and siRNA machinery at P granules. alg-5 is required for optimal fertility and mutations in alg-5 lead to a precocious transition from spermatogenesis to oogenesis. Our results provide a near-comprehensive analysis of miRNA-Argonaute interactions in C. elegans and reveal a new role for miRNAs in the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen C Brown
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.,Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Joshua M Svendsen
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.,Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Rachel M Tucci
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Brooke E Montgomery
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Taiowa A Montgomery
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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32
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Hilz S, Modzelewski AJ, Cohen PE, Grimson A. The roles of microRNAs and siRNAs in mammalian spermatogenesis. Development 2017; 143:3061-73. [PMID: 27578177 PMCID: PMC5047671 DOI: 10.1242/dev.136721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs and siRNAs, both of which are AGO-bound small RNAs, are essential for mammalian spermatogenesis. Although their precise germline roles remain largely uncharacterized, recent discoveries suggest that they function in mechanisms beyond microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional control, playing roles in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation within the nucleus. Here, we discuss the latest findings regarding roles for AGO proteins and their associated small RNAs in the male germline. We integrate genetic, clinical and genomics data, and draw upon findings from non-mammalian models, to examine potential roles for AGO-bound small RNAs during spermatogenesis. Finally, we evaluate the emerging and differing roles for AGOs and AGO-bound small RNAs in the male and female germlines, suggesting potential reasons for these sexual dimorphisms. Summary: This Review article summarizes the latest findings regarding roles for AGO proteins and their associated small RNAs in the male germline, with a particular focus on spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Hilz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Andrew J Modzelewski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Paula E Cohen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Andrew Grimson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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33
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Zhou X, Chen X, Wang Y, Feng X, Guang S. A new layer of rRNA regulation by small interference RNAs and the nuclear RNAi pathway. RNA Biol 2017. [PMID: 28640690 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1341034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosome biogenesis drives cell growth and proliferation, but mechanisms that modulate this process remain poorly understood. For a long time, small rRNA sequences have been widely treated as non-specific degradation products and neglected as garbage sequences. Recently, we identified a new class of antisense ribosomal siRNAs (risiRNAs) that downregulate pre-rRNA through the nuclear RNAi pathway in C. elegans. risiRNAs exhibit sequence characteristics similar to 22G RNA while complement to 18S and 26S rRNA. risiRNAs elicit the translocation of the nuclear Argonaute protein NRDE-3 from the cytoplasm to nucleus and nucleolus, in which the risiRNA/NRDE complex binds to pre-rRNA and silences rRNA expression. Interestingly, when C. elegans is exposed to environmental stimuli, such as cold shock and ultraviolet illumination, risiRNAs accumulate and further turn on the nuclear RNAi-mediated gene silencing pathway. risiRNA may act in a quality control mechanism of rRNA homeostasis. When the exoribonuclease SUSI-1(ceDis3L2) is mutated, risiRNAs are dramatically increased. In this Point of View article, we will summarize our understanding of the small antisense ribosomal siRNAs in a variety of organisms, especially C. elegans, and their possible roles in the quality control mechanism of rRNA homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufei Zhou
- a School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui , P.R. China
| | - Xiangyang Chen
- a School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui , P.R. China
| | - Yun Wang
- a School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui , P.R. China
| | - Xuezhu Feng
- a School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui , P.R. China
| | - Shouhong Guang
- a School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui , P.R. China
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34
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Braukmann F, Jordan D, Miska E. Artificial and natural RNA interactions between bacteria and C. elegans. RNA Biol 2017; 14:415-420. [PMID: 28332918 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1297912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nineteen years after Lisa Timmons and Andy Fire first described RNA transfer from bacteria to C. elegans in an experimental setting 48 the biologic role of this trans-kingdom RNA-based communication remains unknown. Here we summarize our current understanding on the mechanism and potential role of such social RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Braukmann
- a Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,b Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - David Jordan
- a Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,b Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Eric Miska
- a Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,b Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,c Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute , Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge , UK
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35
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Houri-Zeevi L, Rechavi O. A Matter of Time: Small RNAs Regulate the Duration of Epigenetic Inheritance. Trends Genet 2017; 33:46-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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36
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Simonov D, Swift S, Blenkiron C, Phillips AR. Bacterial RNA as a signal to eukaryotic cells as part of the infection process. Discoveries (Craiova) 2016; 4:e70. [PMID: 32309589 PMCID: PMC7159825 DOI: 10.15190/d.2016.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of regulatory RNA has identified an underappreciated area for microbial subversion of the host. There is increasing evidence that RNA can be delivered from bacteria to host cells associated with membrane vesicles or by direct release from intracellular bacteria. Once inside the host cell, RNA can act by activating sequence-independent receptors of the innate immune system, where recent findings suggest this can be more than simple pathogen detection, and may contribute to the subversion of immune responses. Sequence specific effects are also being proposed, with examples from nematode, plant and human models providing support for the proposition that bacteria-to-human RNA signaling and the subversion of host gene expression may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Simonov
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Simon Swift
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Cherie Blenkiron
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anthony R Phillips
- Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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37
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Yu R, Moazed D. CSR-1 Slices a Balance. Cell 2016; 165:267-9. [PMID: 27058659 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
CSR-1 is a germline-expressed C. elegans Argonaute protein essential for viability. In this issue of Cell, Gerson-Gurwitz et al. now demonstrate a role for CSR-1 and its slicer activity in downregulating the levels of maternally deposited mRNAs to fine-tune the expression of proteins with critical roles in embryonic cell divisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Danesh Moazed
- Department of Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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38
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Le HH, Looney M, Strauss B, Bloodgood M, Jose AM. Tissue homogeneity requires inhibition of unequal gene silencing during development. J Cell Biol 2016; 214:319-31. [PMID: 27458132 PMCID: PMC4970325 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201601050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellular organisms can generate and maintain homogenous populations of cells that make up individual tissues. However, cellular processes that can disrupt homogeneity and how organisms overcome such disruption are unknown. We found that ∼100-fold differences in expression from a repetitive DNA transgene can occur between intestinal cells in Caenorhabditis elegans These differences are caused by gene silencing in some cells and are actively suppressed by parental and zygotic factors such as the conserved exonuclease ERI-1. If unsuppressed, silencing can spread between some cells in embryos but can be repeat specific and independent of other homologous loci within each cell. Silencing can persist through DNA replication and nuclear divisions, disrupting uniform gene expression in developed animals. Analysis at single-cell resolution suggests that differences between cells arise during early cell divisions upon unequal segregation of an initiator of silencing. Our results suggest that organisms with high repetitive DNA content, which include humans, could use similar developmental mechanisms to achieve and maintain tissue homogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai H Le
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Monika Looney
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Benjamin Strauss
- Center for Advanced Study of Language, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Michael Bloodgood
- Center for Advanced Study of Language, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Antony M Jose
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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39
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Gerson-Gurwitz A, Wang S, Sathe S, Green R, Yeo GW, Oegema K, Desai A. A Small RNA-Catalytic Argonaute Pathway Tunes Germline Transcript Levels to Ensure Embryonic Divisions. Cell 2016; 165:396-409. [PMID: 27020753 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Multiple division cycles without growth are a characteristic feature of early embryogenesis. The female germline loads proteins and RNAs into oocytes to support these divisions, which lack many quality control mechanisms operating in somatic cells undergoing growth. Here, we describe a small RNA-Argonaute pathway that ensures early embryonic divisions in C. elegans by employing catalytic slicing activity to broadly tune, instead of silence, germline gene expression. Misregulation of one target, a kinesin-13 microtubule depolymerase, underlies a major phenotype associated with pathway loss. Tuning of target transcript levels is guided by the density of homologous small RNAs, whose generation must ultimately be related to target sequence. Thus, the tuning action of a small RNA-catalytic Argonaute pathway generates oocytes capable of supporting embryogenesis. We speculate that the specialized nature of germline chromatin led to the emergence of small RNA-catalytic Argonaute pathways in the female germline as a post-transcriptional control layer to optimize oocyte composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina Gerson-Gurwitz
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shaohe Wang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shashank Sathe
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; UCSD Stem Cell Program & Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rebecca Green
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; UCSD Stem Cell Program & Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Karen Oegema
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Arshad Desai
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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40
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Jose AM. Movement of regulatory RNA between animal cells. Genesis 2015; 53:395-416. [PMID: 26138457 PMCID: PMC4915348 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Revised: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that RNA can move from one cell to another and regulate genes through specific base-pairing. Mechanisms that modify or select RNA for secretion from a cell are unclear. Secreted RNA can be stable enough to be detected in the extracellular environment and can enter the cytosol of distant cells to regulate genes. Mechanisms that import RNA into the cytosol of an animal cell can enable uptake of RNA from many sources including other organisms. This role of RNA is akin to that of steroid hormones, which cross cell membranes to regulate genes. The potential diagnostic use of RNA in human extracellular fluids has ignited interest in understanding mechanisms that enable the movement of RNA between animal cells. Genetic model systems will be essential to gain more confidence in proposed mechanisms of RNA transport and to connect an extracellular RNA with a specific biological function. Studies in the worm C. elegans and in other animals have begun to reveal parts of this novel mechanism of cell-to-cell communication. Here, I summarize the current state of this nascent field, highlight the many unknowns, and suggest future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony M Jose
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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41
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Abstract
Endo-siRNAs (endogenous small-interfering RNAs) have recently emerged as versatile regulators of gene expression. They derive from double-stranded intrinsic transcripts and are processed by Dicer and associate with Argonaute proteins. In Caenorhabditis elegans, endo-siRNAs are known as 22G and 26G RNAs and are involved in genome protection and gene regulation. Drosophila melanogaster endo-siRNAs are produced with the help of specific Dicer and Argonaute isoforms and play an essential role in transposon control and the protection from viral infections. Biological functions of endo-siRNAs in vertebrates include repression of transposable elements and chromatin organization, as well as gene regulation at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
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42
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Whipple JM, Youssef OA, Aruscavage PJ, Nix DA, Hong C, Johnson WE, Bass BL. Genome-wide profiling of the C. elegans dsRNAome. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2015; 21:786-800. [PMID: 25805852 PMCID: PMC4408787 DOI: 10.1261/rna.048801.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies hint that endogenous dsRNA plays an unexpected role in cellular signaling. However, a complete understanding of endogenous dsRNA signaling is hindered by an incomplete annotation of dsRNA-producing genes. To identify dsRNAs expressed in Caenorhabditis elegans, we developed a bioinformatics pipeline that identifies dsRNA by detecting clustered RNA editing sites, which are strictly limited to long dsRNA substrates of Adenosine Deaminases that act on RNA (ADAR). We compared two alignment algorithms for mapping both unique and repetitive reads and detected as many as 664 editing-enriched regions (EERs) indicative of dsRNA loci. EERs are visually enriched on the distal arms of autosomes and are predicted to possess strong internal secondary structures as well as sequence complementarity with other EERs, indicative of both intramolecular and intermolecular duplexes. Most EERs were associated with protein-coding genes, with ∼1.7% of all C. elegans mRNAs containing an EER, located primarily in very long introns and in annotated, as well as unannotated, 3' UTRs. In addition to numerous EERs associated with coding genes, we identified a population of prospective noncoding EERs that were distant from protein-coding genes and that had little or no coding potential. Finally, subsets of EERs are differentially expressed during development as well as during starvation and infection with bacterial or fungal pathogens. By combining RNA-seq with freely available bioinformatics tools, our workflow provides an easily accessible approach for the identification of dsRNAs, and more importantly, a catalog of the C. elegans dsRNAome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Whipple
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA
| | - Osama A Youssef
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA
| | - P Joseph Aruscavage
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA
| | - David A Nix
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5775, USA
| | - Changjin Hong
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - W Evan Johnson
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Brenda L Bass
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA
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Winter AD, Gillan V, Maitland K, Emes RD, Roberts B, McCormack G, Weir W, Protasio AV, Holroyd N, Berriman M, Britton C, Devaney E. A novel member of the let-7 microRNA family is associated with developmental transitions in filarial nematode parasites. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:331. [PMID: 25896062 PMCID: PMC4428239 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1536-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Filarial nematodes are important pathogens in the tropics transmitted to humans via the bite of blood sucking arthropod vectors. The molecular mechanisms underpinning survival and differentiation of these parasites following transmission are poorly understood. microRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate target mRNAs and we set out to investigate whether they play a role in the infection event. Results microRNAs differentially expressed during the early post-infective stages of Brugia pahangi L3 were identified by microarray analysis. One of these, bpa-miR-5364, was selected for further study as it is upregulated ~12-fold at 24 hours post-infection, is specific to clade III nematodes, and is a novel member of the let-7 family, which are known to have key developmental functions in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Predicted mRNA targets of bpa-miR-5364 were identified using bioinformatics and comparative genomics approaches that relied on the conservation of miR-5364 binding sites in the orthologous mRNAs of other filarial nematodes. Finally, we confirmed the interaction between bpa-miR-5364 and three of its predicted targets using a dual luciferase assay. Conclusions These data provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning the transmission of third stage larvae of filarial nematodes from vector to mammal. This study is the first to identify parasitic nematode mRNAs that are verified targets of specific microRNAs and demonstrates that post-transcriptional control of gene expression via stage-specific expression of microRNAs may be important in the success of filarial infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1536-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan D Winter
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Victoria Gillan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Kirsty Maitland
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Richard D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK. .,Advanced Data Analysis Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
| | - Brett Roberts
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Gillian McCormack
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - William Weir
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Anna V Protasio
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Collette Britton
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Eileen Devaney
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
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44
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Abstract
Endogenously produced small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs, 18-30 nucleotides) play a key role in gene regulatory pathways, guiding Argonaute effector proteins as a part of a functional ribonucleoprotein complex called the RISC (RNA induced silencing complex) to complementarily target nucleic acid. Enabled by the advent of high throughput sequencing, there has been an explosion in the identification of endo-siRNAs in all three kingdoms of life since the discovery of the first microRNA in 1993. Concurrently, our knowledge of the variety of cellular processes in which small RNA pathways related to RNA interference (RNAi) play key regulatory roles has also expanded dramatically. Building on the strong foundation of RNAi established over the past fifteen years, this review uses a historical context to highlight exciting recent developments in endo-siRNA pathways. Specifically, my focus will be on recent insights regarding the Argonaute effectors, their endo-siRNA guides and the functional outputs of these pathways in several model systems that have been longstanding champions of small RNA research. I will also touch on newly discovered roles for bacterial Argonautes, which have been integral in deciphering Argonaute structure and demonstrate key functions of these conserved pathways in genome defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Claycomb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, 4366 Medical Sciences Building, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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45
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Abstract
The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has risen to the status of a top model organism for biological research in the last fifty years. Among laboratory animals, this tiny nematode is one of the simplest and easiest organisms to handle. And its life outside the laboratory is beginning to be unveiled. Like other model organisms, C. elegans has a boom-and-bust lifestyle. It feasts on ephemeral bacterial blooms in decomposing fruits and stems. After resource depletion, its young larvae enter a migratory diapause stage, called the dauer. Organisms known to be associated with C. elegans include migration vectors (such as snails, slugs and isopods) and pathogens (such as microsporidia, fungi, bacteria and viruses). By deepening our understanding of the natural history of C. elegans, we establish a broader context and improved tools for studying its biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Frézal
- Institute of Biology of Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Anne Félix
- Institute of Biology of Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
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46
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Double-stranded RNA made in C. elegans neurons can enter the germline and cause transgenerational gene silencing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:2133-8. [PMID: 25646479 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1423333112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An animal that can transfer gene-regulatory information from somatic cells to germ cells may be able to communicate changes in the soma from one generation to the next. In the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, expression of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in neurons can result in the export of dsRNA-derived mobile RNAs to other distant cells. Here, we show that neuronal mobile RNAs can cause transgenerational silencing of a gene of matching sequence in germ cells. Consistent with neuronal mobile RNAs being forms of dsRNA, silencing of target genes that are expressed either in somatic cells or in the germline requires the dsRNA-selective importer SID-1. In contrast to silencing in somatic cells, which requires dsRNA expression in each generation, silencing in the germline is heritable after a single generation of exposure to neuronal mobile RNAs. Although initiation of inherited silencing within the germline requires SID-1, a primary Argonaute RDE-1, a secondary Argonaute HRDE-1, and an RNase D homolog MUT-7, maintenance of inherited silencing is independent of SID-1 and RDE-1, but requires HRDE-1 and MUT-7. Inherited silencing can persist for >25 generations in the absence of the ancestral source of neuronal dsRNA. Therefore, our results suggest that sequence-specific regulatory information in the form of dsRNA can be transferred from neurons to the germline to cause transgenerational silencing.
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47
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Anava S, Posner R, Rechavi O. The soft genome. WORM 2015; 3:e989798. [PMID: 26430554 DOI: 10.4161/21624054.2014.989798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) nematodes transmit small RNAs across generations, a process that enables transgenerational regulation of genes. In contrast to changes to the DNA sequence, transgenerational transmission of small RNA-mediated responses is reversible, and thus enables "soft" or "flexible" inheritance of acquired characteristics. Until very recently only introduction of foreign genetic material (viruses, transposons, transgenes) was shown to directly lead to inheritance of small RNAs. New discoveries however, demonstrate that starvation also triggers inheritance of endogenous small RNAs in C.elegans. Multiple generations of worms inherit starvation-responsive endogenous small RNAs, and starvation also results in heritable extension of the progeny's lifespan. In this Commentary paper we explore the intriguing possibility that large parts of the genome and many additional traits are similarly subjected to heritable small RNA-mediated regulation, and focus on the potential influence of transgenerational RNAi on the worm's physiology. While the universal relevance of this mechanism remains to be discovered, we will examine how the discoveries made in worms already challenge long held dogmas in genetics and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit Anava
- Department of Neurobiology; Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience; Tel Aviv University ; Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rachel Posner
- Department of Neurobiology; Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience; Tel Aviv University ; Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology; Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience; Tel Aviv University ; Tel Aviv, Israel
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48
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Sohi G, Dilworth FJ. Noncoding RNAs as epigenetic mediators of skeletal muscle regeneration. FEBS J 2015; 282:1630-46. [PMID: 25483175 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration is a well-characterized biological process in which resident adult stem cells must undertake a series of cell-fate decisions to ensure efficient repair of the damaged muscle fibers while also maintaining the stem cell niche. Satellite cells, the main stem cell contributing to the repaired muscle fiber, are maintained in a quiescent state in healthy muscle. Upon injury, the satellite cells become activated, and proliferate to expand the muscle progenitor cell population before returning to the quiescent state or differentiating to become myofibers. Importantly, the determination of cell fate is controlled at the epigenetic level in response to environmental cues. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the role played by noncoding RNAs (both miRNAs and long-noncoding RNAs) in the epigenetic control of muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurjeev Sohi
- Sprott Center for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada
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49
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Tu S, Wu MZ, Wang J, Cutter AD, Weng Z, Claycomb JM. Comparative functional characterization of the CSR-1 22G-RNA pathway in Caenorhabditis nematodes. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:208-24. [PMID: 25510497 PMCID: PMC4288196 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As a champion of small RNA research for two decades, Caenorhabditis elegans has revealed the essential Argonaute CSR-1 to play key nuclear roles in modulating chromatin, chromosome segregation and germline gene expression via 22G-small RNAs. Despite CSR-1 being preserved among diverse nematodes, the conservation and divergence in function of the targets of small RNA pathways remains poorly resolved. Here we apply comparative functional genomic analysis between C. elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae to characterize the CSR-1 pathway, its targets and their evolution. C. briggsae CSR-1-associated small RNAs that we identified by immunoprecipitation-small RNA sequencing overlap with 22G-RNAs depleted in cbr-csr-1 RNAi-treated worms. By comparing 22G-RNAs and target genes between species, we defined a set of CSR-1 target genes with conserved germline expression, enrichment in operons and more slowly evolving coding sequences than other genes, along with a small group of evolutionarily labile targets. We demonstrate that the association of CSR-1 with chromatin is preserved, and show that depletion of cbr-csr-1 leads to chromosome segregation defects and embryonic lethality. This first comparative characterization of a small RNA pathway in Caenorhabditis establishes a conserved nuclear role for CSR-1 and highlights its key role in germline gene regulation across multiple animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikui Tu
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA 01605
| | - Monica Z Wu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Jie Wang
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA 01605
| | - Asher D Cutter
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3B2
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA 01605
| | - Julie M Claycomb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1A8
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50
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Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance of resistance to exogenous nucleic acids via small interfering (si) RNA is well established in animal models. Rechavi et al. demonstrate epigenetic inheritance of a starvation-induced pattern of gene silencing caused by endogenous siRNAs and resulting in an increased longevity in the third generation progeny. Combined with recent findings in prokaryotes, these results suggest that Lamarckian-type inheritance of acquired traits is a major evolutionary phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
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