title: Genetic requirements for inheritance of RNAi in C. elegans.
abstract: In Caenorhabditis elegans, the introduction of double-stranded RNA triggers sequence-specific genetic interference (RNAi) that is transmitted to offspring. The inheritance properties associated with this phenomenon were examined. Transmission of the interference effect occurred through a dominant extragenic agent. The wild-type activities of the RNAi pathway genes rde-1 and rde-4 were required for the formation of this interfering agent but were not needed for interference thereafter. In contrast, the rde-2 and mut-7 genes were required downstream for interference. These findings provide evidence for germ line transmission of an extragenic sequence-specific silencing factor and implicate rde-1 and rde-4 in the formation of the inherited agent.
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, Two Biotech Suite 213, 373 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grishok
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabara
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics*; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D018510:RNA, Helminth; C122185:rde-1 protein, C elegans