Reference - Detail
| RRC ID | 4313 |
|---|---|
| Author | Wang G, Reinke V. |
| Title | A C. elegans Piwi, PRG-1, regulates 21U-RNAs during spermatogenesis. |
| Journal | Curr Biol |
| Abstract |
BACKGROUND:Epigenetic regulation by diverse classes of small RNAs is mediated by the highly conserved Argonaute/Piwi family of proteins. Although Argonautes are broadly expressed, the Piwi subfamily primarily functions in the germ line. Piwi proteins are associated with germline-specific ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules in Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse. Depending on the species and on the specific family member, Piwis play important roles in spermatogenesis and/or in maintaining germ cell and stem cell totipotency. Piwis bind to a newly discovered class of small RNAs, called piRNAs. C. elegans contains a large set of Argonaute/Piwi-related proteins, including two closely related to piwi called prg-1 and prg-2. The function of prg-1 and prg-2 and whether piRNAs exist in C. elegans is unknown. RESULTS:Here, we demonstrate that the Piwi-like protein PRG-1 is localized to P granules in germ cells entering spermatogenesis and is required for successful spermatogenesis. Loss of prg-1 causes a marked reduction in expression of a subset of mRNAs expressed during spermatogenesis, and prg-1 mutant sperm exhibit extensive defects in activation and fertilization. Moreover, prg-1 activity is required for the presence of the small RNAs called 21U-RNAs. CONCLUSIONS:Our data suggest that PRG-1 promotes expression, processing, or stability of 21U-RNAs, which, in turn or in concert with PRG-1, promote proper expression of spermatogenesis transcripts. |
| Volume | 18(12) |
| Pages | 861-7 |
| Published | 2008-6-24 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.cub.2008.05.009 |
| PII | S0960-9822(08)00606-4 |
| PMID | 18501605 |
| PMC | PMC2494713 |
| MeSH | Animals Argonaute Proteins Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology* Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism* Gene Expression Regulation* Male MicroRNAs / genetics MicroRNAs / metabolism* RNA, Helminth / genetics RNA, Helminth / metabolism RNA, Messenger / genetics RNA, Messenger / metabolism RNA, Small Interfering / genetics RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism* RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / genetics RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / metabolism* Spermatogenesis* / genetics Spermatogenesis* / physiology |
| IF | 9.601 |
| Times Cited | 149 |
| WOS Category | BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CELL BIOLOGY |
| Resource | |
| C.elegans | tm872 tm1094 |