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piRNA-guided co-transcriptional silencing coopts nuclear export factors.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Abstract

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is a small RNA-based immune system that controls the expression of transposons and maintains genome integrity in animal gonads. In Drosophila, piRNA-guided silencing is achieved, in part, via co-transcriptional repression of transposons by Piwi. This depends on Panoramix (Panx); however, precisely how an RNA binding event silences transcription remains to be determined. Here we show that Nuclear Export Factor 2 (Nxf2) and its co-factor, Nxt1, form a complex with Panx and are required for co-transcriptional silencing of transposons in somatic and germline cells of the ovary. Tethering of Nxf2 or Nxt1 to RNA results in silencing of target loci and the concomitant accumulation of repressive chromatin marks. Nxf2 and Panx proteins are mutually required for proper localization and stability. We mapped the protein domains crucial for the Nxf2/Panx complex formation and show that the amino-terminal portion of Panx is sufficient to induce transcriptional silencing.

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Keywords

D. melanogaster, PIWI proteins, chromosomes, gene expression, nuclear export factor, piRNA pathway, transcriptional gene silencing, transposon control, Active Transport, Cell Nucleus, Animals, Chromatin, Drosophila melanogaster, Gene Silencing, Nuclear Proteins, Protein Binding, Protein Stability, RNA, Small Interfering, Transcription, Genetic

Journal Title

Elife

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-084X
2050-084X

Volume Title

8

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Sponsorship
Cancer Research UK (C14303/A17197)
Cancer Research UK (C14303/A17197)
Wellcome Trust (110161/Z/15/Z)
Cancer Research UK (21143)
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