piRNA Production Requires Heterochromatin Formation in Drosophila

Rangan, P., Malone, Colin D. , Navarro, C., Newbold, S. P, Hayes, P. S, Sachidanandam, R., Hannon, G. J., Lehmann, R. (August 2011) piRNA Production Requires Heterochromatin Formation in Drosophila. Current Biology, 21 (16). pp. 1373-1379. ISSN 0960-9822

Abstract

Summary Protecting the genome from transposable element (TE) mobilization is critical for germline development. In Drosophila, Piwi proteins and their bound small RNAs (piRNAs) provide a potent defense against TE activity. TE targeting piRNAs are processed from TE-dense heterochromatic loci termed piRNA clusters. Although piRNA biogenesis from cluster precursors is beginning to be understood, little is known about piRNA cluster transcriptional regulation. Here, we show that deposition of histone 3 lysine 9 by the methyltransferase dSETDB1 (egg) is required for piRNA cluster transcription. In the absence of dSETDB1, cluster precursor transcription collapses in germline and somatic gonadal cells and TEs are activated, resulting in germline loss and a block in germline stem cell differentiation. We propose that heterochromatin protects the germline by activating the piRNA pathway.

Item Type:	Paper
Subjects:	bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > transcription organism description > animal > insect > Drosophila bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > histone bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > methyltransferase bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > piRNA bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > sRNA bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > DNA expression > transposable elements
CSHL Authors:	Hannon, Gregory J. Malone, Colin D. Sachidanandam, Ravi
Communities:	CSHL labs > Hannon lab CSHL labs > Sachidanandam lab School of Biological Sciences > Publications CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Bioinformatics Service CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > DNA Sequencing Service
Depositing User:	CSHL Librarian
Date:	23 August 2011
Date Deposited:	09 Nov 2011 20:31
Last Modified:	26 Dec 2014 19:47
PMCID:	PMC3205116
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/15660

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