piRNAs initiate transcriptional silencing of spermatogenic genes during C. elegans germline development
| Autor: | Eric, Cornes, Loan, Bourdon, Meetali, Singh, Florian, Mueller, Piergiuseppe, Quarato, Erik, Wernersson, Magda, Bienko, Blaise, Li, Germano, Cecere |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Transcription Genetic Gene Expression Regulation Developmental Cell Differentiation Germ Cells Argonaute Proteins DNA Transposable Elements Animals RNA Interference Gene Silencing RNA Messenger RNA Small Interfering Caenorhabditis elegans Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System Spermatogenesis |
| Zdroj: | Developmental cell. 57(2) |
| ISSN: | 1878-1551 |
| Popis: | Eukaryotic genomes harbor invading transposable elements that are silenced by PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to maintain genome integrity in animal germ cells. However, whether piRNAs also regulate endogenous gene expression programs remains unclear. Here, we show that C. elegans piRNAs trigger the transcriptional silencing of hundreds of spermatogenic genes during spermatogenesis, promoting sperm differentiation and function. This silencing signal requires piRNA-dependent small RNA biogenesis and loading into downstream nuclear effectors, which correlates with the dynamic reorganization of two distinct perinuclear biomolecular condensates present in germ cells. In addition, the silencing capacity of piRNAs is temporally counteracted by the Argonaute CSR-1, which targets and licenses spermatogenic gene transcription. The spatial and temporal overlap between these opposing small RNA pathways contributes to setting up the timing of the spermatogenic differentiation program. Thus, our work identifies a prominent role for piRNAs as direct regulators of endogenous transcriptional programs during germline development and gamete differentiation. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|