Transgene-mediated cosuppression in the C. elegans germ line

Abstract

Functional silencing of chromosomal loci can be induced by transgenes (cosuppression) or by introduction of double-stranded RNA (RNAi). Here, we demonstrate the generality of and define rules for a transgene-mediated cosuppression phenomenon in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line. Functional repression is not a consequence of persistent physical association between transgenes and endogenous genes or of mutations in affected genes. The cosuppression mechanism likely involves an RNA mediator that defines its target specificity, reminiscent of RNAi. Cosuppression is strongly abrogated inrde-2 and mut-7 mutants, but is not blocked in anrde-1 mutant, indicating that cosuppression and RNAi have overlapping but distinct genetic requirements.