Abstract

RNA metabolism controls multiple biological processes, and a specific class of small RNAs, called piRNAs, act as genome guardians by silencing the expression of transposons and repetitive sequences in the gonads. Defects in the piRNA pathway affect genome integrity and fertility. The possible implications in physiopathological mechanisms of human diseases have made the piRNA pathway the object of intense investigation, and recent work suggests that there is a role for this pathway in somatic processes including synaptic plasticity. The RNA-binding fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP, also known as FMR1) controls translation and its loss triggers the most frequent syndromic form of mental retardation as well as gonadal defects in humans. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that germline, as well as somatic expression, of Drosophila Fmr1 (denoted dFmr1), the Drosophila ortholog of FMRP, are necessary in a pathway mediated by piRNAs. Moreover, dFmr1 interacts genetically and biochemically with Aubergine, an Argonaute protein and a key player in this pathway. Our data provide novel perspectives for understanding the phenotypes observed in Fragile X patients and support the view that piRNAs might be at work in the nervous system.

Autore Pugliese

• Massari Serafina , Bozzetti Maria Giuseppina , Specchia Valeria

Tutti gli autori

• Bozzetti M.P. , Specchia V. , Cattenoz P.B. , Laneve P. , Geusa A. , Sahin B.H. , Di Tommaso S. , Friscini A. , Massari S. , Diebold C. , Giangrande A.

Titolo volume/Rivista

JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE

Anno di pubblicazione

2015

ISSN

0021-9533

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

8

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

7

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

24/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile