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Channel nuclear pore complex subunits are required for transposon silencing in Drosophila.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Lawless, Victoria R  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0406-6552
Passera, Alessandro 
MacMillan, Serena 

Abstract

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the principal gateway between nucleus and cytoplasm that enables exchange of macromolecular cargo. Composed of multiple copies of ~30 different nucleoporins (Nups), the NPC acts as a selective portal, interacting with factors which individually license passage of specific cargo classes. Here we show that two Nups of the inner channel, Nup54 and Nup58, are essential for transposon silencing via the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in the Drosophila ovary. In ovarian follicle cells, loss of Nup54 and Nup58 results in compromised piRNA biogenesis exclusively from the flamenco locus, whereas knockdowns of other NPC subunits have widespread consequences. This provides evidence that some Nups can acquire specialised roles in tissue-specific contexts. Our findings consolidate the idea that the NPC has functions beyond simply constituting a barrier to nuclear/cytoplasmic exchange as genomic loci subjected to strong selective pressure can exploit NPC subunits to facilitate their expression.

Description

Keywords

D. melanogaster, cell biology, chromosomes, gene expression, nuclear pore complex, nucleoporins, piRNAs, piwi-interacting RNAs, rna export, transposon silencing, Animals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Cell Line, DNA Transposable Elements, Drosophila Proteins, Drosophila melanogaster, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Nuclear Pore, Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins, Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins, Ovary, RNA Interference, RNA, Long Noncoding, RNA, Small Interfering

Journal Title

Elife

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-084X
2050-084X

Volume Title

10

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (110161/Z/15/Z)
Royal Society (RP130039)
Cancer Research UK (C14303/A17197)
Cancer Research UK (C14303/A17197)
Cancer Research UK (C9545/A29580_do not transfer)
Cancer Research UK (21143)