Argonautes ALG-3 and ALG-4 are required for spermatogenesis-specific 26G-RNAs and thermotolerant sperm in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Gametogenesis is a thermosensitive process in numerous metazoans, ranging from worms to man. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a variety of RNA-binding proteins that associate with germ-line nuage (P granules), including the Piwi-clade argonaute PRG-1, have been implicated in maintaining fertility at elevated temperature. Here we describe the role of two AGO-class paralogs, alg-3 (T22B3.2) and alg-4 (ZK757.3), in promoting thermotolerant male fertility. A rescuing GFP::alg-3 transgene is localized to P granules beginning at the late pachytene stage of male gametogenesis. alg-3/4 double mutants lack a subgroup of small RNAs, the 26G-RNAs which target and appear to down-regulate numerous spermatogenesis-expressed mRNAs. These findings add to a growing number of AGO pathways required for thermotolerant fertility in C. elegans and support a model in which AGOs and their small RNA cofactors function to promote robustness in gene-expression networks.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01606, USA.
Colin C
CC
Conine
Pedro J
PJ
Batista
Weifeng
W
Gu
Julie M
JM
Claycomb
Daniel A
DA
Chaves
Masaki
M
Shirayama
Craig C
CC
Mello
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
C548336:ALG-4 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C548335:T22B3.2 protein, C elegans