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- Title
An endogenous small interfering RNA pathway in Drosophila.
- Authors
Czech, Benjamin; Malone, Colin D; Zhou, Rui; Stark, Alexander; Schlingeheyde, Catherine; Dus, Monica; Perrimon, Norbert; Kellis, Manolis; Wohlschlegel, James A; Sachidanandam, Ravi; Hannon, Gregory J; Brennecke, Julius
- Abstract
Drosophila endogenous small RNAs are categorized according to their mechanisms of biogenesis and the Argonaute protein to which they bind. MicroRNAs are a class of ubiquitously expressed RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides in length, which arise from structured precursors through the action of Drosha-Pasha and Dicer-1-Loquacious complexes. These join Argonaute-1 to regulate gene expression. A second endogenous small RNA class, the Piwi-interacting RNAs, bind Piwi proteins and suppress transposons. Piwi-interacting RNAs are restricted to the gonad, and at least a subset of these arises by Piwi-catalysed cleavage of single-stranded RNAs. Here we show that Drosophila generates a third small RNA class, endogenous small interfering RNAs, in both gonadal and somatic tissues. Production of these RNAs requires Dicer-2, but a subset depends preferentially on Loquacious rather than the canonical Dicer-2 partner, R2D2 (ref. 14). Endogenous small interfering RNAs arise both from convergent transcription units and from structured genomic loci in a tissue-specific fashion. They predominantly join Argonaute-2 and have the capacity, as a class, to target both protein-coding genes and mobile elements. These observations expand the repertoire of small RNAs in Drosophila, adding a class that blurs distinctions based on known biogenesis mechanisms and functional roles.
- Publication
Nature, 2008, Vol 453, Issue 7196, p798
- ISSN
1476-4687
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/nature07007