Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans

Transgene silencing is a common phenomenon observed in Caenorhabditis elegans, particularly in the germline, but the precise mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. Through an analysis of the transcription factors profile of C. elegans, we discovered that the expression of several transge...

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Main Authors: Siyu Chen, Weihong Liu, Lei Xiong, Zhiju Tao, Di Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:RNA Biology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15476286.2024.2332856
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author Siyu Chen
Weihong Liu
Lei Xiong
Zhiju Tao
Di Zhao
author_facet Siyu Chen
Weihong Liu
Lei Xiong
Zhiju Tao
Di Zhao
author_sort Siyu Chen
collection DOAJ
description Transgene silencing is a common phenomenon observed in Caenorhabditis elegans, particularly in the germline, but the precise mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. Through an analysis of the transcription factors profile of C. elegans, we discovered that the expression of several transgenic reporter lines exhibited tissue-specific silencing, specifically in the intestine of C. elegans. Notably, this silencing could be reversed in mutants defective in endogenous RNA interference (RNAi). Further investigation using knock-in strains revealed that these intestine-silent genes were indeed expressed in vivo, indicating that the organism itself regulates the intestine-specific silencing. This tissue-specific silencing appears to be mediated through the endo-RNAi pathway, with the main factors of this pathway, mut-2 and mut-16, are significantly enriched in the intestine. Additionally, histone modification factors, such as met-2, are involved in this silencing mechanism. Given the crucial role of the intestine in reproduction alongside the germline, the transgene silencing observed in the intestine reflects the self-protective mechanisms employed by the organisms. In summary, our study proposed that compared to other tissues, the transgenic silencing of intestine is specifically regulated by the endo-RNAi pathway.
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spelling doaj-art-c149a1698de14bbba6bd5cd90d2e12ae2025-08-20T01:54:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRNA Biology1547-62861555-85842024-12-0121144945810.1080/15476286.2024.2332856Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegansSiyu Chen0Weihong Liu1Lei Xiong2Zhiju Tao3Di Zhao4Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, ChinaIntelligent Perception Lab, Hanwang Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing, ChinaComputer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USASchool of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, ChinaTransgene silencing is a common phenomenon observed in Caenorhabditis elegans, particularly in the germline, but the precise mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. Through an analysis of the transcription factors profile of C. elegans, we discovered that the expression of several transgenic reporter lines exhibited tissue-specific silencing, specifically in the intestine of C. elegans. Notably, this silencing could be reversed in mutants defective in endogenous RNA interference (RNAi). Further investigation using knock-in strains revealed that these intestine-silent genes were indeed expressed in vivo, indicating that the organism itself regulates the intestine-specific silencing. This tissue-specific silencing appears to be mediated through the endo-RNAi pathway, with the main factors of this pathway, mut-2 and mut-16, are significantly enriched in the intestine. Additionally, histone modification factors, such as met-2, are involved in this silencing mechanism. Given the crucial role of the intestine in reproduction alongside the germline, the transgene silencing observed in the intestine reflects the self-protective mechanisms employed by the organisms. In summary, our study proposed that compared to other tissues, the transgenic silencing of intestine is specifically regulated by the endo-RNAi pathway.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15476286.2024.2332856C. eleganstransgene silencingendo-RNAitissue-specific
spellingShingle Siyu Chen
Weihong Liu
Lei Xiong
Zhiju Tao
Di Zhao
Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
RNA Biology
C. elegans
transgene silencing
endo-RNAi
tissue-specific
title Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
title_full Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
title_fullStr Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
title_full_unstemmed Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
title_short Tissue-specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
title_sort tissue specific silencing of integrated transgenes achieved through endogenous rna interference in caenorhabditis elegans
topic C. elegans
transgene silencing
endo-RNAi
tissue-specific
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15476286.2024.2332856
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