Molecular analysis of systemic RNAi spreading across cells

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24390053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Mitani Shohei 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90192757)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: RNAi / 線虫 / 伝播 / rsd-3

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Gene functions exert by serial actions of transcription and translation, resulting functional proteins. Recently, it is known that non-coding RNAs are very important for these processes. As an example, RNA interference (RNAi) often suppresses gene expression and regulates chromatin structures. In Caenorhabditis elegans, in which RNAi was found for the first time, a phenomenon systemic RNAi has been known: effects of RNAi transmits from one cell to others and the whole body. This phenomenon is also known to exert in mammalian bodies. We used C. elegans to search for genes defective in systemic RNAi and found that rsd-3 is required for the spread of RNAi between cells. rsd-3 was described to be required for systemic RNAi in germ cells but not in somatic cells. We found that rsd-3 is required for both germ cells and somatic cells. rsd-3 was expressed ubiquitously and localized to endosomes and trans Golgi network. We suggest that rsd-3 acts for systemic RNAi via vesicular transport.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学、細胞生理学