RNAi pathway in C. elegans: the argonautes and collaborators.
Since Dr. Sidney Brenner first used it as an animal model system, the round worm Caenorhabditis elegans has significantly contributed to our understanding of important biological processes. Among them, the discovery in the 1990s of new gene silencing pathways orchestrated by tiny non-coding RNAs created a new field of research in biology. In this review, we will discuss the key players of the RNAi pathways in C. elegans and particularly the Argonaute genes, an impressive gene family of 27 members important in many aspects of these pathways.
Boisvert
Marie-Eve L
ME
Laval University Cancer Research Center, Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Québec City, Québec G1R 2J6, Canada.
Simard
Martin J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; C461645:RDE-4 protein, C elegans; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C122185:rde-1 protein, C elegans; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D043244:Ribonuclease III