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Transposon silencing in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line by natural RNAi

Transposon silencing in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line by natural RNAi Transposable elements are stretches of DNA that can move and multiply within the genome of an organism. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains multiple Tc1 transposons that jump in somatic cells, but are silenced in the germ line 1,2,3 . Many mutants that have lost this silencing have also lost the ability to execute RNA interference (RNAi) 2,3 , a process whereby genes are suppressed by exposure to homologous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here we show how RNAi causes transposon silencing in the nematode germ line. We find evidence for transposon-derived dsRNAs, in particular to the terminal inverted repeats, and show that these RNAs may derive from read-through transcription of entire transposable elements. Small interfering RNAs of Tc1 were detected. When a germline-expressed reporter gene is fused to a stretch of Tc1 sequence, this transgene is silenced in a manner dependent on functional mutator genes (mut-7, mut-16 and pk732). These results indicate that RNAi surveillance is triggered by fortuitous read-through transcription of dispersed Tc1 copies, which can form dsRNA as a result of ‘snap-back’ of the terminal inverted repeats. RNAi mediated by this dsRNA silences transposase gene expression. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Springer Journals

Transposon silencing in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line by natural RNAi

Sijen, Titia; Plasterk, Ronald H. A.
Nature , Volume 426 (6964) – Nov 20, 2003
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References (66)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 by Macmillan Magazines Ltd.
Subject
Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, multidisciplinary
ISSN
0028-0836
eISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature02107
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Transposable elements are stretches of DNA that can move and multiply within the genome of an organism. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains multiple Tc1 transposons that jump in somatic cells, but are silenced in the germ line 1,2,3 . Many mutants that have lost this silencing have also lost the ability to execute RNA interference (RNAi) 2,3 , a process whereby genes are suppressed by exposure to homologous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here we show how RNAi causes transposon silencing in the nematode germ line. We find evidence for transposon-derived dsRNAs, in particular to the terminal inverted repeats, and show that these RNAs may derive from read-through transcription of entire transposable elements. Small interfering RNAs of Tc1 were detected. When a germline-expressed reporter gene is fused to a stretch of Tc1 sequence, this transgene is silenced in a manner dependent on functional mutator genes (mut-7, mut-16 and pk732). These results indicate that RNAi surveillance is triggered by fortuitous read-through transcription of dispersed Tc1 copies, which can form dsRNA as a result of ‘snap-back’ of the terminal inverted repeats. RNAi mediated by this dsRNA silences transposase gene expression.

Journal

Nature – Springer Journals

Published: Nov 20, 2003

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