TY - UNPB
T1 - The RNA Polymerase II core subunit RPB-9 directs transcriptional elongation at piRNA loci in Caenorhabditis elegans
AU - Berkyurek, Ahmet C.
AU - Furlan, Giulia
AU - Lampersberger, Lisa
AU - Beltran, Toni
AU - Weick, Eva-Maria
AU - Nischwitz, Emily
AU - Navarro, Isabela Cunha
AU - Braukmann, Fabian
AU - Akay, Alper
AU - Price, Jonathan
AU - Butter, Falk
AU - Sarkies, Peter
AU - Miska, Eric A.
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are genome-encoded small RNAs that regulate germ cell development and maintain germline integrity in many animals. Mature piRNAs engage Piwi Argonaute proteins to silence complementary transcripts, including transposable elements and endogenous genes. piRNA biogenesis mechanisms are diverse and remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II) core subunit RPB-9 as required for piRNA-mediated silencing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. rpb-9 mutants fail to initiate heritable piRNA-mediated gene silencing. Furthermore, we show that RPB-9 is required to repress two DNA transposon families and a subset of somatic genes in the C. elegans germline. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that RPB-9 is required for piRNA biogenesis. We demonstrate that RPB-9 acts to promote transcriptional elongation/termination at endogenous piRNA loci. We conclude that as a part of its rapid evolution the piRNA pathway has co-opted another ancient machinery, this time for high-fidelity transcription.
AB - PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are genome-encoded small RNAs that regulate germ cell development and maintain germline integrity in many animals. Mature piRNAs engage Piwi Argonaute proteins to silence complementary transcripts, including transposable elements and endogenous genes. piRNA biogenesis mechanisms are diverse and remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II) core subunit RPB-9 as required for piRNA-mediated silencing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. rpb-9 mutants fail to initiate heritable piRNA-mediated gene silencing. Furthermore, we show that RPB-9 is required to repress two DNA transposon families and a subset of somatic genes in the C. elegans germline. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that RPB-9 is required for piRNA biogenesis. We demonstrate that RPB-9 acts to promote transcriptional elongation/termination at endogenous piRNA loci. We conclude that as a part of its rapid evolution the piRNA pathway has co-opted another ancient machinery, this time for high-fidelity transcription.
UR - https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.01.070433
U2 - 10.1101/2020.05.01.070433
DO - 10.1101/2020.05.01.070433
M3 - Preprint
BT - The RNA Polymerase II core subunit RPB-9 directs transcriptional elongation at piRNA loci in Caenorhabditis elegans
PB - biorxiv
ER -