RRC ID 76028
Author Pastore B, Hertz HL, Price IF, Tang W.
Title pre-piRNA trimming and 2'-O-methylation protect piRNAs from 3' tailing and degradation in C. elegans.
Journal Cell Rep
Abstract The Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway suppresses transposable elements and promotes fertility in diverse organisms. Maturation of piRNAs involves pre-piRNA trimming followed by 2'-O-methylation at their 3' termini. Here, we report that the 3' termini of Caenorhabditis elegans piRNAs are subject to nontemplated nucleotide addition, and piRNAs with 3' addition exhibit extensive base-pairing interaction with their target RNAs. Animals deficient for PARN-1 (pre-piRNA trimmer) and HENN-1 (2'-O-methyltransferase) accumulate piRNAs with 3' nontemplated nucleotides. In henn-1 mutants, piRNAs are shortened prior to 3' addition, whereas long isoforms of untrimmed piRNAs are preferentially modified in parn-1 mutant animals. Loss of either PARN-1 or HENN-1 results in modest reduction in steady-state levels of piRNAs. Deletion of both enzymes leads to depletion of piRNAs, desilenced piRNA targets, and impaired fecundity. Together, our findings suggest that pre-piRNA trimming and 2'-O-methylation act collaboratively to protect piRNAs from tailing and degradation.
Volume 36(9)
Pages 109640
Published 2021-8-31
DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109640
PII S2211-1247(21)01083-4
PMID 34469728
PMC PMC8459939
MeSH Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Argonaute Proteins / genetics Argonaute Proteins / metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism* Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism Exoribonucleases / genetics Exoribonucleases / metabolism Fertility Methylation Methyltransferases / genetics Methyltransferases / metabolism RNA Precursors / genetics RNA Precursors / metabolism* RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional* RNA Stability* RNA, Small Interfering / genetics RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
Resource
C.elegans tm4477 tm869