Endogenous RNA interference provides a somatic defense against Drosophila transposons.
BACKGROUND
Because of the mutagenic consequences of mobile genetic elements, elaborate defenses have evolved to restrict their activity. A major system that controls the activity of transposable elements (TEs) in flies and vertebrates is mediated by Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which are approximately 24-30 nucleotide RNAs that are bound by Piwi-class effectors. The piRNA system is thought to provide primarily a germline defense against TE activity.


RESULTS
Here, we describe a second system that represses Drosophila TEs by using endogenous small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are 21 nucleotide, 3'-end-modified RNAs that are dependent on Dicer-2 and Argonaute-2. In contrast to piRNAs, we find that the TE-siRNA system is active in somatic tissues, and particularly so in various immortalized cell lines. Analysis of the patterns and properties of TE-derived small RNAs reveals further distinctions between TE regions and genomic loci that are converted into piRNAs and siRNAs, respectively. Finally, functional tests show that many transposon transcripts accumulate to higher levels in cells and animal tissues that are deficient for Dicer-2 or Argonaute-2.


CONCLUSIONS
Drosophila utilizes two small-RNA systems to restrict transposon activity in the germline (mostly via piRNAs) and in the soma (mostly via siRNAs).
Chung
Wei-Jen
WJ
Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 521 Rockefeller Research Laboratories, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Okamura
Katsutomo
K
Martin
Raquel
R
Lai
Eric C
EC
D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004330:Drosophila / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D043244:Ribonuclease III
C433807:AGO2 protein, Drosophila; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; C478069:DCR-2 protein, Drosophila; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D020365:RNA Helicases