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The RNA polymerase II subunit RPB‐9 recruits the integrator complex to terminate Caenorhabditis elegans piRNA transcription
Author(s) -
Berkyurek Ahmet C,
Furlan Giulia,
Lampersberger Lisa,
Beltran Toni,
Weick EvaMaria,
Nischwitz Emily,
Cunha Navarro Isabela,
Braukmann Fabian,
Akay Alper,
Price Jonathan,
Butter Falk,
Sarkies Peter,
Miska Eric A
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2020105565
Subject(s) - piwi interacting rna , biology , caenorhabditis elegans , argonaute , transposable element , genetics , rasirna , germline , transcription (linguistics) , gene , gene silencing , biogenesis , rna interference , rna , microbiology and biotechnology , genome , linguistics , philosophy
PIWI‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are genome‐encoded small RNAs that regulate germ cell development and maintain germline integrity in many animals. Mature piRNAs engage Piwi Argonaute proteins to silence complementary transcripts, including transposable elements and endogenous genes. piRNA biogenesis mechanisms are diverse and remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) core subunit RPB‐9 as required for piRNA‐mediated silencing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . We show that rpb‐9 initiates heritable piRNA‐mediated gene silencing at two DNA transposon families and at a subset of somatic genes in the germline. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that RPB‐9 is required for piRNA biogenesis by recruiting the Integrator complex at piRNA genes, hence promoting transcriptional termination. We conclude that, as a part of its rapid evolution, the piRNA pathway has co‐opted an ancient machinery for high‐fidelity transcription.