RRC ID 59536
Author Li L, Veksler-Lublinsky I, Zinovyeva A.
Title HRPK-1, a conserved KH-domain protein, modulates microRNA activity during Caenorhabditis elegans development.
Journal PLoS Genet
Abstract microRNAs (miRNAs) are potent regulators of gene expression that function in diverse developmental and physiological processes. Argonaute proteins loaded with miRNAs form the miRNA Induced Silencing Complexes (miRISCs) that repress gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRISCs target genes through partial sequence complementarity between the miRNA and the target mRNA's 3' UTR. In addition to being targeted by miRNAs, these mRNAs are also extensively regulated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) through RNA processing, transport, stability, and translation regulation. While the degree to which RBPs and miRISCs interact to regulate gene expression is likely extensive, we have only begun to unravel the mechanisms of this functional cooperation. An RNAi-based screen of putative ALG-1 Argonaute interactors has identified a role for a conserved RNA binding protein, HRPK-1, in modulating miRNA activity during C. elegans development. Here, we report the physical and genetic interaction between HRPK-1 and ALG-1/miRNAs. Specifically, we report the genetic and molecular characterizations of hrpk-1 and its role in C. elegans development and miRNA-mediated target repression. We show that loss of hrpk-1 causes numerous developmental defects and enhances the mutant phenotypes associated with reduction of miRNA activity, including those of lsy-6, mir-35-family, and let-7-family miRNAs. In addition to hrpk-1 genetic interaction with these miRNA families, hrpk-1 is required for efficient regulation of lsy-6 target cog-1. We report that hrpk-1 plays a role in processing of some but not all miRNAs and is not required for ALG-1/AIN-1 miRISC assembly. We suggest that HRPK-1 may functionally interact with miRNAs by both affecting miRNA processing and by enhancing miRNA/miRISC gene regulatory activity and present models for its activity.
Volume 15(10)
Pages e1008067
Published 2019-10-1
DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008067
PII PGENETICS-D-19-00357
PMID 31584932
PMC PMC6795461
MeSH 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics Animals Argonaute Proteins / genetics* Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics* Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics Carrier Proteins / genetics Embryo, Nonmammalian Embryonic Development / genetics* Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics Homeodomain Proteins / genetics MicroRNAs / genetics Protein Domains / genetics RNA, Messenger / genetics RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / genetics*
IF 5.224
Times Cited 1
Resource
C.elegans tm5522 tm492