1. piRNAs initiate transcriptional silencing of spermatogenic genes during C. elegans germline development.
- Author
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Cornes E, Bourdon L, Singh M, Mueller F, Quarato P, Wernersson E, Bienko M, Li B, and Cecere G
- Subjects
- Animals, Argonaute Proteins genetics, Argonaute Proteins metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins genetics, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins metabolism, Cell Differentiation genetics, DNA Transposable Elements genetics, Gene Silencing physiology, Germ Cells metabolism, Male, Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System genetics, RNA Interference physiology, RNA, Messenger genetics, RNA, Small Interfering metabolism, Spermatogenesis physiology, Transcription, Genetic genetics, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental genetics, RNA, Small Interfering genetics, Spermatogenesis genetics
- Abstract
Eukaryotic genomes harbor invading transposable elements that are silenced by PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to maintain genome integrity in animal germ cells. However, whether piRNAs also regulate endogenous gene expression programs remains unclear. Here, we show that C. elegans piRNAs trigger the transcriptional silencing of hundreds of spermatogenic genes during spermatogenesis, promoting sperm differentiation and function. This silencing signal requires piRNA-dependent small RNA biogenesis and loading into downstream nuclear effectors, which correlates with the dynamic reorganization of two distinct perinuclear biomolecular condensates present in germ cells. In addition, the silencing capacity of piRNAs is temporally counteracted by the Argonaute CSR-1, which targets and licenses spermatogenic gene transcription. The spatial and temporal overlap between these opposing small RNA pathways contributes to setting up the timing of the spermatogenic differentiation program. Thus, our work identifies a prominent role for piRNAs as direct regulators of endogenous transcriptional programs during germline development and gamete differentiation., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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