Small RNAs play remarkable roles in regulating gene expression by binding to Argonaute family proteins and guiding them to recognize their targets. A specific subfamily of Argonaute, named PIWI, binds PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) and promotes fertility in all animals tested to date. piRNAs and PIWI proteins are highly enriched in germ cells, and PIWI mutations lead to sterility and dramatically reduced germ-cell numbers. In addition, PIWI-like proteins are overexpressed in several cancer tissues and this overexpression has been linked to poor prognosis. However, the biogenesis of piRNAs, as well as the mechanism by which piRNAs regulate germ cell and cancer cell, remain largely unknown. In this proposal I will use specific experiments to address three fundamental questions about piRNA pathways using nematode C. elegans as model organism: What is the molecular mechanism of piRNA-induced gene silencing? What are the genes regulated by piRNAs? Finally, what are the components involved in piRNA biogenesis and downstream silencing? The understanding of this evolutionally conserved pathway has potential to provide novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of infertility and certain cancers.

Public Health Relevance

Small RNAs play remarkable roles in regulating gene expression by binding to Argonaute family of proteins and guiding them to recognize their targets1. A specific subfamily of Argonaute, named PIWI, binds small RNA (piRNA) and has been linked to functions in stem cell maintenance and tumorgenesis of various cancers2-4. Here we propose to apply molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches to understand the biogenesis and mechanism of PIWI / piRNAs-mediated gene regulation, which have the potential to provide novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of diseases such as infertility and certain cancers. Reference 1. Ghildiyal, M., and Zamore, P. D. (2009). Small silencing RNAs: an expanding universe. Nat. Rev. Genet 10, 94-108. 2. Thomson, T., and Lin, H. (2009). The biogenesis and function of PIWI proteins and piRNAs: progress and prospect. Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol 25, 355-76. 3. Lee, J. H., Sch|tte, D., Wulf, G., F|zesi, L., Radzun, H. J., Schweyer, S., Engel, W., and Nayernia, K. (2006). Stem-cell protein Piwil2 is widely expressed in tumors and inhibits apoptosis through activation of Stat3/Bcl-XL pathway. Hum. Mol. Genet 15, 201-11. 4. Liu, J. J., Shen, R., Chen, L., Ye, Y., He, G., Hua, K., Jarjoura, D., Nakano, T., Ramesh, G. K., Shapiro, C. L., et al. (2010). Piwil2 is expressed in various stages of breast cancers and has the potential to be used as a novel biomarker. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 3, 328-37.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM099372-03
Application #
8507765
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F08-E (20))
Program Officer
Reddy, Michael K
Project Start
2011-08-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$55,670
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
603847393
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01655
Shirayama, Masaki; Seth, Meetu; Lee, Heng-Chi et al. (2012) piRNAs initiate an epigenetic memory of nonself RNA in the C. elegans germline. Cell 150:65-77
Gu, Weifeng; Lee, Heng-Chi; Chaves, Daniel et al. (2012) CapSeq and CIP-TAP identify Pol II start sites and reveal capped small RNAs as C. elegans piRNA precursors. Cell 151:1488-500
Lee, Heng-Chi; Gu, Weifeng; Shirayama, Masaki et al. (2012) C. elegans piRNAs mediate the genome-wide surveillance of germline transcripts. Cell 150:78-87