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Published on: February 1, 2019
Posttranslational interference of Ty1 retrotransposition by antisense RNAs
Emiko Matsuda1, David J Garfinkel
1Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA.
Summary
Antisense RNAs from the Ty1 retrotransposon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae limit its movement. These RNAs reduce key proteins, preventing Ty1 replication and integration, offering insight into transposon control.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Genomics
Background:
- Transposable elements (TEs) can disrupt genome integrity and gene expression.
- RNA interference (RNAi) is a common mechanism for TE control, but not universally conserved.
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacks canonical RNAi pathways, necessitating alternative TE suppression strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms by which Saccharomyces cerevisiae controls retrotransposon movement.
- To determine the role of antisense (AS) RNAs from the Ty1 element in regulating its own retrotransposition.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Ty1 antisense RNA (Ty1AS) transcripts and their overlap with Ty1 copy number control (CNC) regions.
- Experimental manipulation of Ty1 copy number and CNC region sequences.
- Assessment of Ty1AS RNA levels, protein expression (integrase, reverse transcriptase), and cDNA synthesis.
- Localization studies of Ty1AS RNAs within virus-like particles.
Main Results:
- Multiple Ty1AS transcripts were identified, overlapping with essential Ty1 CNC sequences.
- Ty1AS RNAs were found to inhibit Ty1 transposition in trans.
- Changes in Ty1 copy number or CNC region integrity affected Ty1AS RNA levels and transposition.
- Ty1AS RNAs correlated with reduced integrase and reverse transcriptase levels and impaired Ty1 cDNA synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Antisense RNAs (Ty1AS) represent an intrinsic mechanism for limiting Ty1 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Ty1AS RNAs act post-translationally by decreasing the abundance of proteins required for Ty1 replication and integration.
- This study reveals a novel non-RNAi pathway for transposon control in yeast.
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