Abstract
ABSTRACT RNA interference (RNAi) is a specific post-transcriptional gene-silencing phenomenon, which plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression and the protection from transposable elements in eukaryotic organisms. In Drosophila melanogaster, RNAi can be induced by microRNA (miRNA), endogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA), or exogenous siRNA. However, the biogenesis of miRNA and siRNA in these RNAi pathways is aided by the double-stranded RNA binding proteins (dsRBPs) Loquacious (Loqs)-PB, Loqs-PD or R2D2. In this study, we identified three alternative splicing variants of Loqs, namely Loqs-PA, -PB, and -PC in the orthopteran Locusta migratoria. We performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to study the roles of the three Loqs variants in the miRNA- and siRNA-mediated RNAi pathways. Our results show that Loqs-PB assists the binding of pre-miRNA to Dicer−1 to lead to the cleavage of pre-miRNA to yield matured miRNA in the miRNA-mediated RNAi pathway. In contrast, different Loqs proteins participate in different siRNA-mediated RNAi pathways. In exogenous siRNA-mediated RNAi pathway, binding of Loqs-PA or LmLoqs-PB to exogenous dsRNA facilitates the cleavage of dsRNA by Dicer−2, whereas in endogenous siRNA-mediated RNAi pathway, binding of Loqs-PB or Loqs-PC to endogenous dsRNA facilitates the cleavage of dsRNA by Dicer−2. Our findings provide new insights into the functional importance of different Loqs proteins derived from alternative splicing variants of Loqs in achieving high RNAi efficiency in different RNAi pathways in insects.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.