scholarly journals Plant Polymerase IV sensitizes chromatin through histone modifications to preclude spread of silencing into protein-coding domains

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek H Sundar ◽  
Chenna Swetha ◽  
Debjani Basu ◽  
Kannan Pachamuthu ◽  
Tania Chakraborty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Rnas ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Constitutive Heterochromatin ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Protein Coding Genes ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Architectural Feature

Heterochromatin is the predominant architectural feature of genomes that ensures genomic stability across eukaryotes. It mostly functions in restricting expression of repeats, mobile elements such as transposons and other regions. The establishment, maintenance and spreading of heterochromatin requires several factors including chromatin modifiers. However, how exactly heterochromatin formation is avoided in protein-coding domains is poorly understood. Here we show that a plant specific paralogue of RNA polymerase (pol) II, named pol IV, is involved in avoidance of facultative heterochromatic marks in protein coding genes, in addition to silencing the repeats and transposons forming constitutive heterochromatin. In its absence, H3K27 trimethylation mark intrudes the protein coding genes, more profoundly in genes embedded with repeats. In a subset of genes that lack the compensatory silencing, spurious transcriptional activity results in small(s)RNA production leading to post-transcriptional gene silencing. We show that such effects are significantly pronounced in rice, a plant with larger genome with distributed heterochromatin when compared to Arabidopsis. Our results indicate the surprising division of labour among plant-specific polymerases, not just in establishing effective silencing via small RNAs and epigenetics, but also in influencing chromatin boundaries.

Biogenic mechanisms and utilization of small RNAs derived from human protein-coding genes

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1075-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Valen ◽  
Pascal Preker ◽  
Peter Refsing Andersen ◽  
Xiaobei Zhao ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Rnas ◽  
Human Protein ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Protein Coding Genes

scholarly journals An atypical class of non-coding small RNAs produced in rice leaves upon bacterial infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganna Reshetnyak ◽  
Jonathan M. Jacobs ◽  
Florence Auguy ◽  
Coline Sciallano ◽  
Lisa Claude ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Virulent Strains ◽  
Microbe Interactions

ABSTRACTNon-coding small RNAs (sRNA) act as mediators of gene silencing and regulate plant growth, development and stress responses. Early insights into plant sRNAs established a role in antiviral defense and they are now extensively studied across plant-microbe interactions. Here, sRNA sequencing discovered a class of sRNA in rice (Oryza sativa) specifically associated with foliar diseases caused by Xanthomonas oryzae bacteria. Xanthomonas-induced small RNAs (xisRNAs) loci were distinctively upregulated in response to diverse virulent strains at an early stage of infection producing a single duplex of 20-22nt sRNAs. xisRNAs production was dependent on the Type III secretion system, a major bacterial virulence factor for host colonization. xisRNA loci overlap with annotated transcripts sequences often encoding protein kinase domain proteins. A number of the corresponding rice cis-genes have documented functions in immune signaling and some xisRNA loci coincide with the coding sequence of a conserved kinase motif. xisRNAs exhibit features of small interfering RNAs and their biosynthesis depend on canonical components OsDCL1 and OsHEN1. xisRNA induction possibly mediates post-transcriptional gene silencing but they do not broadly suppress cis-genes expression on the basis of mRNA-seq data. Overall, our results identify a group of unusual sRNAs with a potential role in plant-microbe interactions.

scholarly journals Xrn1p acts at multiple steps in the budding-yeast RNAi pathway to enhance the efficiency of silencing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A Getz ◽  
David E Weinberg ◽  
Ines A Drinnenberg ◽  
Gerald R Fink ◽  
David P Bartel
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Rnai Pathway ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Passenger Strand ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Target Rna

Abstract RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene-silencing pathway that can play roles in viral defense, transposon silencing, heterochromatin formation and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Although absent from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, RNAi is present in other budding-yeast species, including Naumovozyma castellii, which have an unusual Dicer and a conventional Argonaute that are both required for gene silencing. To identify other factors that act in the budding-yeast pathway, we performed an unbiased genetic selection. This selection identified Xrn1p, the cytoplasmic 5′-to-3′ exoribonuclease, as a cofactor of RNAi in budding yeast. Deletion of XRN1 impaired gene silencing in N. castellii, and this impaired silencing was attributable to multiple functions of Xrn1p, including affecting the composition of siRNA species in the cell, influencing the efficiency of siRNA loading into Argonaute, degradation of cleaved passenger strand and degradation of sliced target RNA.

scholarly journals Virus and Viroid-Derived Small RNAs as Modulators of Host Gene Expression: Molecular Insights Into Pathogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Ramesh ◽  
Sneha Yogindran ◽  
Prabu Gnanasekaran ◽  
Supriya Chakraborty ◽  
Stephan Winter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Rna Silencing ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Genomic Rnas ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Viroid Infection ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Associated Symptoms ◽  
Sequence Complementarity

Virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) generated by the host RNA silencing mechanism are effectors of plant’s defense response and act by targeting the viral RNA and DNA in post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) pathways, respectively. Contrarily, viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) compromise the host RNA silencing pathways and also cause disease-associated symptoms. In this backdrop, reports describing the modulation of plant gene(s) expression by vsiRNAs via sequence complementarity between viral small RNAs (sRNAs) and host mRNAs have emerged. In some cases, silencing of host mRNAs by vsiRNAs has been implicated to cause characteristic symptoms of the viral diseases. Similarly, viroid infection results in generation of sRNAs, originating from viroid genomic RNAs, that potentially target host mRNAs causing typical disease-associated symptoms. Pathogen-derived sRNAs have been demonstrated to have the propensity to target wide range of genes including host defense-related genes, genes involved in flowering and reproductive pathways. Recent evidence indicates that vsiRNAs inhibit host RNA silencing to promote viral infection by acting as decoy sRNAs. Nevertheless, it remains unclear if the silencing of host transcripts by viral genome-derived sRNAs are inadvertent effects due to fortuitous pairing between vsiRNA and host mRNA or the result of genuine counter-defense strategy employed by viruses to enhance its survival inside the plant cell. In this review, we analyze the instances of such cross reaction between pathogen-derived vsiRNAs and host mRNAs and discuss the molecular insights regarding the process of pathogenesis.

The long hand of the small RNAs reaches into several levels of gene regulation

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Nolan ◽  
Carlo Cogoni
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Developmental Regulation ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
New Class ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cellular Defence ◽  
Genomic Organisation

Small RNA molecules such as siRNAs and miRNAs represent a new class of molecules that have been implicated in a wide range of diverse gene silencing phenomena. It is now becoming clear that these two similar molecules share several common features in both their biogenesis and their mechanism of action. Thus, the siRNA and miRNA pathways may have evolved from a common ancestral mechanism that has diverged to play important roles in developmental regulation, genomic organisation, and cellular defence against foreign nucleic acids.Key words: miRNA, siRNA, post-transcriptional gene silencing, RNAi, heterochromatin.

scholarly journals Xrn1p Acts at Multiple Steps in the Budding-Yeast RNAi Pathway to Enhance the Efficiency of Silencing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Getz ◽  
David E. Weinberg ◽  
Ines A. Drinnenberg ◽  
Gerald R. Fink ◽  
David P. Bartel
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Rnai Pathway ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Passenger Strand ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Target Rna

AbstractRNA interference (RNAi) is a gene-silencing pathway that can play roles in viral defense, transposon silencing, heterochromatin formation, and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Although absent from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, RNAi is present in other budding-yeast species, including Naumovozyma castellii, which have an unusual Dicer and a conventional Argonaute that are both required for gene silencing. To identify other factors that act in the budding-yeast pathway, we performed an unbiased genetic selection. This selection identified Xrn1p, the cytoplasmic 5′-to-3′ exoribonuclease, as a cofactor of RNAi in budding yeast. Deletion of XRN1 impaired gene silencing in N. castellii, and this impaired silencing was attributable to multiple functions of Xrn1p, including affecting the composition of siRNA species in the cell, influencing the efficiency of siRNA loading into Argonaute, degradation of cleaved passenger strand, and degradation of sliced target RNA.

scholarly journals Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Derived Small RNAs and Changes in Circulating Small RNAs Associated with COVID-19

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1593
Author(s):  
Claudius Grehl ◽  
Christoph Schultheiß ◽  
Katrin Hoffmann ◽  
Mascha Binder ◽  
Thomas Altmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Rnas ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Defense Mechanism ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Rna Sequences ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Human Mirnas ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Host Defense Mechanism ◽  
Virus Sequence

Cleavage of double-stranded RNA is described as an evolutionary conserved host defense mechanism against viral infection. Small RNAs are the product and triggers of post transcriptional gene silencing events. Up until now, the relevance of this mechanism for SARS-CoV-2-directed immune responses remains elusive. Herein, we used high throughput sequencing to profile the plasma of active and convalescent COVID-19 patients for the presence of small circulating RNAs. The existence of SARS-CoV-2 derived small RNAs in plasma samples of mild and severe COVID-19 cases is described. Clusters of high siRNA abundance were discovered, homologous to the nsp2 3’-end and nsp4 virus sequence. Four virus-derived small RNA sequences have the size of human miRNAs, and a target search revealed candidate genes associated with ageusia and long COVID symptoms. These virus-derived small RNAs were detectable also after recovery from the disease. The additional analysis of circulating human miRNAs revealed differentially abundant miRNAs, discriminating mild from severe cases. A total of 29 miRNAs were reduced or absent in severe cases. Several of these are associated with JAK-STAT response and cytokine storm.

scholarly journals The Diversity of Plant Small RNAs Silencing Mechanisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 362-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens A. Schröder ◽  
Pauline E. Jullien
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Small Rna ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Genome Stability ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing

Small RNAs gene regulation was first discovered about 20 years ago. It represents a conserve gene regulation mechanism across eukaryotes and is associated to key regulatory processes. In plants, small RNAs tightly regulate development, but also maintain genome stability and protect the plant against pathogens. Small RNA gene regulation in plants can be divided in two canonical pathways: Post-transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) that results in transcript degradation and/or translational inhibition or Transcriptional Gene Silencing (TGS) that results in DNA methylation. In this review, we will focus on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We will provide a brief overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in canonical small RNA pathways as well as introducing more atypical pathways recently discovered.

scholarly journals Gene of the month: DICER1: ruler and controller

2020 ◽  
pp. jclinpath-2020-207203
Author(s):  
Michelle Thunders ◽  
Brett Delahunt
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Incomplete Penetrance ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Malignant Tumours ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Small Regulatory Rnas ◽  
Dicer1 Syndrome ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies

DICER1 is a highly conserved RNaseIII endoribonuclease that has a critical role in the biogenesis of microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are small regulatory RNAs responsible for post-transcriptional gene silencing, controlling more than half of human protein-coding genes. This is achieved through the targeting and regulation of complementary RNA transcripts and has a well-documented role in post-transcriptional gene regulation and transposon repression. DICER1 deficiency results in dysregulation of miRNAs, changing the expression of many genes. DICER1 syndrome represents a collection of benign and malignant tumours arising from an autosomally inherited germline mutation leading to an inherited predisposition to cancer. The syndrome represents an unusual form of Knudson’s two-hit hypothesis, where individuals with a pathogenic germline DICER1 variant acquire a second trans-somatic missense DICER1 mutation. This somatic mutation appears to have to occur in one of five hotspots codons and may contribute towards the incomplete penetrance observed within DICER1 syndrome families. In this case, DICER1 is haploinsuffcient with only one deletion required and partial loss of function being advantageous to tumours over complete loss of function. As increasing data emerge reaffirming the pivotal role of DICER1 in the maintenance of human physiology, DICER1 is likely to become an increasingly attractive target for novel therapeutic strategies.

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