Abstract
AbstractThe environment and genes shape the development, physiology and behaviour of organisms. Many animal species can take-up double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from the environment. Environmental dsRNA changes gene expression through RNA interference (RNAi). While environmental RNAi is used as a laboratory tool, e.g. in nematodes, planaria and insects, its biological role remains enigmatic. Here we characterise the environmental dsRNA receptor SID-2 to understand the biological function of dsRNA uptake inCaenorhabditis elegans. First we determine that SID-2 localises to the apical membrane and the trans-Golgi-network (TGN) in the intestine, implicating the TGN as a central cellular compartment for environmental dsRNA uptake. We demonstrate that SID-2 is irrelevant for nucleotide uptake from the environment as a nutritional (nitrogen) source. Instead RNA profiling and high-resolution live imaging revealed a new biological function forsid-2in growth and phenotypic plasticity. Surprisingly, lack of the ability to uptake environmental RNA reduces plasticity of gene expression. Furthermore, using genetic analyses we show that the dsRNA pathway genessid-2, sid-1andrde-4together regulate growth. This work suggest that environmental RNA affects morphology and plasticity through gene regulation.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cited by
2 articles.
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