The C. elegans CSR-1 argonaute pathway counteracts epigenetic silencing to promote germline gene expression

Dev Cell. 2013 Dec 23;27(6):656-63. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.11.014.

Abstract

Organisms can develop adaptive sequence-specific immunity by reexpressing pathogen-specific small RNAs that guide gene silencing. For example, the C. elegans PIWI-Argonaute/piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway recruits RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) to foreign sequences to amplify a transgenerational small-RNA-induced epigenetic silencing signal (termed RNAe). Here, we provide evidence that, in addition to an adaptive memory of silenced sequences, C. elegans can also develop an opposing adaptive memory of expressed/self-mRNAs. We refer to this mechanism, which can prevent or reverse RNAe, as RNA-induced epigenetic gene activation (RNAa). We show that CSR-1, which engages RdRP-amplified small RNAs complementary to germline-expressed mRNAs, is required for RNAa. We show that a transgene with RNAa activity also exhibits accumulation of cognate CSR-1 small RNAs. Our findings suggest that C. elegans adaptively acquires and maintains a transgenerational CSR-1 memory that recognizes and protects self-mRNAs, allowing piRNAs to recognize foreign sequences innately, without the need for prior exposure

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Argonaute Proteins / genetics
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Germ Cells / metabolism*
  • RNA, Helminth / genetics*
  • RNA, Helminth / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Argonaute Proteins
  • CSR-1 protein, C elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • PRG-1 protein, C elegans
  • RNA, Helminth
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE49532