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Related Experiment Videos

RNA interference is required for normal centromere function in fission yeast.

Tom Volpe1, Vera Schramke, Georgina L Hamilton

  • 1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Bungtown Road, New York 11724, USA.

Chromosome Research : an International Journal on the Molecular, Supramolecular and Evolutionary Aspects of Chromosome Biology
|May 8, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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RNA interference (RNAi) is crucial for maintaining silent chromatin at fission yeast centromeres. RNAi components are essential for proper chromosome segregation and centromere function.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Active centromeres in eukaryotes are linked to repetitive DNA sequences.
  • In fission yeast, heterochromatic outer repeats are vital for centromere assembly.
  • RNA interference (RNAi) machinery processes centromeric transcripts to establish silent chromatin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of RNAi components in maintaining heterochromatic silencing at centromeric repeats.
  • To determine the necessity of RNAi for histone modifications and protein recruitment at centromeres.
  • To elucidate the link between RNAi, centromeric silencing, and chromosome segregation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of RNA interference (RNAi) components (Argonaute, Dicer, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) in fission yeast.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Assessment of gene silencing, histone H3 lysine 9 methylation, and Swi6 association at ectopic dg silencers.
  • Evaluation of chromosome segregation fidelity and sensitivity to microtubule poisons in mutant strains.
  • Examination of dg transcription and non-coding centromeric RNA regulation in centromere protein mutants (csp).

    • Main Results:

    • RNA interference (RNAi) components (Ago1, Dcr1, Rdp1) are required for maintaining silencing, H3K9 methylation, and Swi6 association at dg ectopic silencers.
    • Deletion of RNAi components leads to chromosome mis-segregation, lagging chromosomes, and sensitivity to microtubule poisons.
    • csp mutants exhibit defects in regulating non-coding centromeric RNAs and show disrupted H3K9 methylation and Swi6/cohesin recruitment to centromeric repeats.
    • The formation of silent chromatin on dg repeats and functional centromere development are dependent on RNAi.

    Conclusions:

    • RNA interference is indispensable for establishing and maintaining silent chromatin at fission yeast centromeres.
    • Proper centromeric silencing mediated by RNAi is essential for accurate chromosome segregation.
    • Defects in RNAi-dependent centromeric silencing lead to genomic instability.