title: ABC transporters and RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: RNAi is an evolutionarily conserved gene-silencing phenomenon that can be triggered by exogenous delivery of double stranded RNA to organisms. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the response to dsRNA is remarkably robust, and systemic RNAi responses are often observed. We have taken a genetic approach using this organism to better understand the mechanisms that facilitate RNAi. By analyzing strains of RNAi-defective mutants, we have uncovered an unexpected role for ABC transporters in RNAi and related silencing mechanisms. Ten of the sixty ABC transporter genes encoded in the C. elegans genome are required for robust RNAi. We will present data that highlights common features of these genes relative to their roles in RNAi, including genetic interactions with other components of the RNAi machinery. We will also describe unique roles for some transporter genes in endogenous RNAi-related processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, 5041 Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045-7534, USA. timmons@ku.edu
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Timmons
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering