The C. elegans SNAPc component SNPC-4 coats piRNA domains and is globally required for piRNA abundance

Dev Cell. 2014 Oct 27;31(2):145-58. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.09.015.

Abstract

The Piwi/Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway protects the germline from the activity of foreign sequences such as transposons. Remarkably, tens of thousands of piRNAs arise from a minimal number of discrete genomic regions. The extent to which clustering of these small RNA genes contributes to their coordinated expression remains unclear. We show that C. elegans SNPC-4, the Myb-like DNA-binding subunit of the small nuclear RNA activating protein complex, binds piRNA clusters in a germline-specific manner and is required for global piRNA expression. SNPC-4 localization is mutually dependent with localization of piRNA biogenesis factor PRDE-1. SNPC-4 exhibits an atypical widely distributed binding pattern that "coats" piRNA domains. Discrete peaks within the domains occur frequently at RNA-polymerase-III-occupied transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, which have been implicated in chromatin organization. We suggest that SNPC-4 binding establishes a positive expression environment across piRNA domains, providing an explanation for the conserved clustering of individually transcribed piRNA genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • RNA Polymerase III / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zim-3 protein, C elegans
  • unc-130 protein, C elegans
  • RNA Polymerase III

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE53412