Localization and expression dynamics of an RNA Pol I core subunit in response to fasting in C. elegans

Nutrient availability influences ribosome biogenesis, requiring dynamic regulation of RNA Pol I activity. In C. elegans , fasting reduces pre-rRNA levels. However, whether this reduction stems from a regulation of RNA Pol I expression remains unclear. Here, we examined how the nutritional status affects the localization and expression levels of RPOA-2 , a core subunit of RNA Pol I, in the intestine. We found that RPOA-2 retains its nucleolar localization regardless of animals being fed, fasted or fed after fasting. Interestingly, fasting reduces RPOA-2 protein amounts which are restored upon feeding. These findings suggest that the availability of RNA Pol I core subunits contributes to the regulation of rDNA transcription in response to nutrients.