Pan-arthropod analysis reveals somatic piRNAs as an ancestral defence against transposable elements
Authors
Quarles, KA
Yang, Y
Tanguy, M
Frezal, L
Smith, SA
Sharma, PP
Cordaux, R
Gilbert, C
Giraud, I
Collins, DH
Zamore, PD
Sarkies, P
Publication Date
2018-01-01Journal Title
Nature Ecology & Evolution
ISSN
2397-334X
Publisher
Springer Nature
Volume
2
Pages
174-181
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Lewis, S., Quarles, K., Yang, Y., Tanguy, M., Frezal, L., Smith, S., Sharma, P., et al. (2018). Pan-arthropod analysis reveals somatic piRNAs as an ancestral defence against transposable elements. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2 174-181. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0403-4
Abstract
In animals, small RNA molecules termed PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) silence transposable elements (TEs), protecting the germline from genomic instability and mutation. piRNAs have been detected in the soma in a few animals, but these are believed to be specific adaptations of individual species. Here, we report that somatic piRNAs were likely present in the ancestral arthropod more than 500 million years ago. Analysis of 20 species across the arthropod phylum suggests that somatic piRNAs targeting TEs and mRNAs are common among arthropods. The presence of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in chelicerates (horseshoe crabs, spiders, scorpions) suggests that arthropods originally used a plant-like RNA interference mechanism to silence TEs. Our results call into question the view that the ancestral role of the piRNA pathway was to protect the germline and demonstrate that small RNA silencing pathways have been repurposed for both somatic and germline functions throughout arthropod evolution.
Relationships
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.10266
Sponsorship
We thank A. McGregor, D. Leite, M. Akam, R. Jenner, R. Kilner, A. Duarte, C. Jiggins, R. Wallbank, A. Bourke, T. Dalmay, N. Moran, K. Warchol, R. Callahan, G. Farley and T. Livdahl for providing the arthropods. H. Robertson provided the D. virgifera genome sequence. This research was supported by a Leverhulme Research Project Grant (RPG-2016-210 to F.M.J., E.A.M. and P.S.), a European Research Council grant (281668 DrosophilaInfection to F.M.J.), a Medical Research Council grant (MRC MC-A652-5PZ80 to P.S.), an Imperial College Research Fellowship (to P.S.), Cancer Research UK (C13474/A18583 and C6946/A14492 to E.A.M.), the Wellcome Trust (104640/Z/14/Z and 092096/Z/10/Z to E.A.M.) and a National Institutes of Health R37 grant (GM62862 to P.D.Z.).
Funder references
Cancer Research Uk (None)
European Research Council (281668)
Wellcome Trust (104640/Z/14/Z)
Cancer Research UK (18583)
Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2016-210)
Wellcome Trust (092096/Z/10/Z)
Cancer Research Uk (None)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0403-4
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/270394
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