Systemic RNAi in C. elegans requires the putative transmembrane protein SID-1.
Double-stranded RNA-mediated gene interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans systemically inhibits gene expression throughout the organism. To investigate how gene-specific silencing information is transmitted between cells, we constructed a strain that permits visualization of systemic RNAi. We used this strain to identify systemic RNA interference-deficient (sid) loci required to spread gene-silencing information between tissues but not to initiate or maintain an RNAi response. One of these loci, sid-1, encodes a conserved protein with predicted transmembrane domains. SID-1 is expressed in cells sensitive to RNAi, is localized to the cell periphery, and is required cell-autonomously for systemic RNAi.
Winston
William M
WM
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Molodowitch
Christina
C
Hunter
Craig P
CP
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009030:Mosaicism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D018510:RNA, Helminth; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C452203:SID-1 protein, C elegans; C489233:unc-22 protein, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins