An epigenetic role for maternally inherited piRNAs in transposon silencing

Brennecke, J., Malone, C. D., Aravin, A. A., Sachidanandam, R., Stark, A., Hannon, G. J. (November 2008) An epigenetic role for maternally inherited piRNAs in transposon silencing. Science, 322 (5906). pp. 1387-92.

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URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19039138
DOI: 10.1126/science.1165171

Abstract

In plants and mammals, small RNAs indirectly mediate epigenetic inheritance by specifying cytosine methylation. We found that small RNAs themselves serve as vectors for epigenetic information. Crosses between Drosophila strains that differ in the presence of a particular transposon can produce sterile progeny, a phenomenon called hybrid dysgenesis. This phenotype manifests itself only if the transposon is paternally inherited, suggesting maternal transmission of a factor that maintains fertility. In both P- and I-element-mediated hybrid dysgenesis models, daughters show a markedly different content of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) targeting each element, depending on their parents of origin. Such differences persist from fertilization through adulthood. This indicates that maternally deposited piRNAs are important for mounting an effective silencing response and that a lack of maternal piRNA inheritance underlies hybrid dysgenesis.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > DNA methylation
organism description > animal > insect > Drosophila
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > epigenetics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > epigenetics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > transposons
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Hannon lab
CSHL labs > Sachidanandam lab
School of Biological Sciences > Publications
Depositing User: Tom Adams
Date: 28 November 2008
Date Deposited: 26 Aug 2011 13:52
Last Modified: 22 Sep 2014 15:49
PMCID: PMC2805124
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/7692

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