A comprehensive survey of C. elegans argonaute proteins reveals organism-wide gene regulatory networks and functions

Elife. 2023 Feb 15:12:e83853. doi: 10.7554/eLife.83853.

Abstract

Argonaute (AGO) proteins associate with small RNAs to direct their effector function on complementary transcripts. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains an expanded family of 19 functional AGO proteins, many of which have not been fully characterized. In this work, we systematically analyzed every C. elegans AGO using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to introduce GFP::3xFLAG tags. We have characterized the expression patterns of each AGO throughout development, identified small RNA binding complements, and determined the effects of ago loss on small RNA populations and developmental phenotypes. Our analysis indicates stratification of subsets of AGOs into distinct regulatory modules, and integration of our data led us to uncover novel stress-induced fertility and pathogen response phenotypes due to ago loss.

Keywords: 22G-RNA; 26G-RNA; Argonaute; C. elegans; developmental biology; gene regulation; genetics; genomics; miRNA; piRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Argonaute Proteins / genetics
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins* / metabolism
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE208702
  • GEO/GSE18731
  • GEO/GSE18714
  • GEO/GSE18165
  • GEO/GSE18215
  • GEO/GSE66344