Poster abstracts

Poster number 53 submitted by Yi-Hui Wang

An AT-hook transcription factor promotes transcription of histone, spliced-leader, and piRNA clusters

Yi-Hui Wang (Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology; The Center for RNA Biology), Hannah L. Hertz (Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology; The Center for RNA Biology), Benjamin Pastore (Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology; The Center for RNA Biology), Wen Tang (Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology; The Center for RNA Biology)

Abstract:
In all three domains of life, genes with related functions can be organized into specific genomic regions known as gene clusters. In eukaryotes, histone, piRNA, and rDNA (ribosomal DNA) clusters are among the most notable clusters which play fundamental roles in chromatin formation, genome integrity, and translation, respectively. These clusters have long been thought to be regulated by distinct transcriptional mechanisms. In this study, using C. elegans as a model system we identify ATTF-6, a member of the AT-hook family, as a key factor for the expression of histone, piRNA, and 5S rDNA-SL1 (spliced leader 1) clusters. ATTF-6 is essential for C. elegans viability. It forms distinct nuclear foci at both piRNA and 5S rDNA-SL1 clusters. Loss of ATTF-6 leads to a depletion of histone mRNAs, SL1 transcripts, and piRNAs. Additionally, we demonstrate that ATTF-6 is required for the recruitment of USTC (Upstream Sequence Transcription Complex) to piRNA clusters, which is necessary for piRNA production. Collectively, our findings reveal a unifying role for an AT-hook transcription factor in promoting the expression of fundamental gene clusters.

References:
1. Ruby, J. Graham, et al. "Large-scale sequencing reveals 21U-RNAs and additional microRNAs and endogenous siRNAs in C. elegans." Cell 127.6 (2006): 1193-1207.
2. Weng, Chenchun, et al. "The USTC co-opts an ancient machinery to drive piRNA transcription in C. elegans." Genes & development 33.1-2 (2019): 90-102.
3. Hertz, Hannah L., Ian F. Price, and Wen Tang. "Visualization and purification of Caenorhabditis elegans Germ Granule Proteins using proximity labeling." Bio-protocol 12.8 (2022): e4386-e4386.

Keywords: piRNA biogenesis, AT-hook transcription factor