RRC ID 65297
Author Rogers AK, Phillips CM.
Title A Small-RNA-Mediated Feedback Loop Maintains Proper Levels of 22G-RNAs in C. elegans.
Journal Cell Rep
Abstract RNA interference (RNAi) is an essential regulatory mechanism in all animals. In Caenorhabditis elegans, several classes of small RNAs act to silence or license expression of mRNA targets. ERI-6/7 is required for the production of some endogenous small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and acts as a negative regulator of the exogenous RNAi pathway. We find that the genomic locus encoding eri-6/7 contains two distinct regions that are targeted by endogenous siRNAs. Loss of these siRNAs disrupts eri-6/7 mRNA expression, resulting in increased production of siRNAs from other small RNA pathways because these pathways compete with eri-6/7-dependent transcripts for access to the downstream siRNA amplification machinery. Thus, the pathway acts like a small-RNA-mediated feedback loop to ensure homeostasis of gene expression by small RNA pathways. Similar feedback loops that maintain chromatin homeostasis have been identified in yeast and Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting an evolutionary conservation of feedback mechanisms in gene regulatory pathways.
Volume 33(3)
Pages 108279
Published 2020-10-20
DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108279
PII S2211-1247(20)31268-7
PMID 33086057
PMC PMC7603289
MeSH Animals Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism* DNA Helicases / genetics DNA Helicases / metabolism* Feedback Gene Silencing / physiology RNA Interference / physiology* RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism RNA, Messenger / metabolism RNA, Small Interfering / genetics RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
Resource
C.elegans tm1200 tm1860