| RRC ID |
53947
|
| Author |
Tang W, Seth M, Tu S, Shen EZ, Li Q, Shirayama M, Weng Z, Mello CC.
|
| Title |
A Sex Chromosome piRNA Promotes Robust Dosage Compensation and Sex Determination in C. elegans.
|
| Journal |
Dev Cell
|
| Abstract |
In metazoans, Piwi-related Argonaute proteins engage piRNAs (Piwi-interacting small RNAs) to defend the genome against invasive nucleic acids, such as transposable elements. Yet many organisms-including worms and humans-express thousands of piRNAs that do not target transposons, suggesting that piRNA function extends beyond genome defense. Here, we show that the X chromosome-derived piRNA 21ux-1 downregulates XOL-1 (XO Lethal), a master regulator of X chromosome dosage compensation and sex determination in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations in 21ux-1 and several Piwi-pathway components sensitize hermaphrodites to dosage compensation and sex determination defects. We show that the piRNA pathway also targets xol-1 in C. briggsae, a nematode species related to C. elegans. Our findings reveal physiologically important piRNA-mRNA interactions, raising the possibility that piRNAs function broadly to ensure robust gene expression and germline development.
|
| Volume |
44(6)
|
| Pages |
762-770.e3
|
| Published |
2018-3-26
|
| DOI |
10.1016/j.devcel.2018.01.025
|
| PII |
S1534-5807(18)30060-1
|
| PMID |
29456136
|
| PMC |
PMC5991626
|
| MeSH |
Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
Dosage Compensation, Genetic*
Gene Expression Regulation*
Phenotype
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
Sex Chromosomes*
Sex Determination Analysis*
|
| IF |
10.092
|
| Times Cited |
11
|
| Resource |
| C.elegans |
tm872 |
