zucchini and squash encode two putative nucleases required for rasiRNA production in the Drosophila germline
zucchini and squash encode two putative nucleases required for rasiRNA production in the Drosophila germline
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DOI：
10.1016/j.devcel.2007.03.022
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发表时间：
2007-06-01
影响因子：
11.8
通讯作者：
Schupbach, Trudi
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Pane, Attilio;Wehr, Kristina;Schupbach, Trudi
RNAi是生物体调节基因表达和保护基因组免受病毒和转座元件攻击的一种广泛的机制。在这里，我们报告了在生殖系RNAi过程中功能的南瓜果蝇(Zuc)和南瓜(SQU)的鉴定。ZUC和SQU含有与核酸酶同源的结构域。突变的雌性是不育的，在卵子发生过程中表现出背腹图案缺陷。此外，Oskar蛋白在早期卵母细胞中异位表达，在那里它通常被RNAi机制沉默。ZUC和SQU定位于核周核团，并与PIWI类蛋白Aubergine相互作用。在果蝇胚系中，Zuc和sQu基因突变导致端粒特异性转座元件Het-A和Tart表达上调，并诱导星状蛋白的表达。我们表明，这些缺陷是由于ZUC和SQU突变体无法产生重复相关的小干扰RNA所致。
RNAi is a widespread mechanism by which organisms regulate gene expression and defend their genomes against viruses and transposable elements. Here we report the identification of Drosophila zucchini (zuc) and squash (squ), which function in germline RNAi processes. Zuc and Squ contain domains with homologies to nucleases. Mutant females are sterile and show dorsoventral patterning defects during oogenesis. In addition, Oskar protein is ectopically expressed in early oocytes, where it is normally silenced by RNAi mechanisms. Zuc and Squ localize to the perinuclear nuage and interact with Aubergine, a PIWI class protein. Mutations in zuc and squ induce the upregulation of Het-A and Tart, two telomere-specific transposable elements, and the expression of Stellate protein in the Drosophila germline. We show that these defects are due to the inability of zuc and squ mutants to produce repeat-associated small interfering RNAs.