DEPS-1 promotes P-granule assembly and RNA interference in C. elegans germ cells.
P granules are germ-cell-specific cytoplasmic structures containing RNA and protein, and required for proper germ cell development in C. elegans. PGL-1 and GLH-1 were previously identified as critical components of P granules. We have identified a new P-granule-associated protein, DEPS-1, the loss of which disrupts P-granule structure and function. DEPS-1 is required for the proper localization of PGL-1 to P granules, the accumulation of glh-1 mRNA and protein, and germ cell proliferation and fertility at elevated temperatures. In addition, DEPS-1 is required for RNA interference (RNAi) of germline-expressed genes, possibly because DEPS-1 promotes the accumulation of RDE-4, a dsRNA-binding protein required for RNAi. A genome wide analysis of gene expression in deps-1 mutant germ lines identified additional targets of DEPS-1 regulation, many of which are also regulated by the RNAi factor RDE-3. Our studies suggest that DEPS-1 is a key component of the P-granule assembly pathway and that its roles include promoting accumulation of some mRNAs, such as glh-1 and rde-4, and reducing accumulation of other mRNAs, perhaps by collaborating with RDE-3 to generate endogenous short interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs).
Spike
Caroline A
CA
Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
Bader
Jason
J
Reinke
Valerie
V
Strome
Susan
S
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C529212:DEPS-1 protein, C elegans; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger