How might flukes and tapeworms maintain genome integrity without a canonical piRNA pathway?

Danielle E. Skinner; Gabriel Rinaldi; Uriel Koziol; Klaus Brehm; Paul J. Brindley

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2014.01.001

How might flukes and tapeworms maintain genome integrity without a canonical piRNA pathway?

Danielle E. Skinner, Gabriel Rinaldi, Uriel Koziol, Klaus Brehm, Paul J. Brindley^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Surveillance by RNA interference is central to controlling the mobilization of transposable elements (TEs). In stem cells, Piwi argonaute (Ago) proteins and associated proteins repress mobilization of TEs to maintain genome integrity. This defense mechanism targeting TEs is termed the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. In this opinion article, we draw attention to the situation that the genomes of cestodes and trematodes have lost the piwi and vasa genes that are hallmark characters of the germline multipotency program. This absence of Piwi-like Agos and Vasa helicases prompts the question: how does the germline of these flatworms withstand mobilization of TEs? Here, we present an interpretation of mechanisms likely to defend the germline integrity of parasitic flatworms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	123-129
Number of pages	7
Journal	Trends in Parasitology
Volume	30
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2014.01.001
Publication status	Published - Mar 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Argonaute
Cestoda
Germline
PiRNA pathway
Piwi
Platyhelminthes
Transposable elements
Trematoda
Vasa
RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
Cestoda/genetics
DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics
Phylogeny
Argonaute Proteins/genetics
Genomic Instability/genetics
Animals
Trematoda/genetics
Protein Processing, Post-Translational

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.pt.2014.01.001

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Cite this

@article{946aab54b22e4a9580679bd7aa192418,

title = "How might flukes and tapeworms maintain genome integrity without a canonical piRNA pathway?",

abstract = "Surveillance by RNA interference is central to controlling the mobilization of transposable elements (TEs). In stem cells, Piwi argonaute (Ago) proteins and associated proteins repress mobilization of TEs to maintain genome integrity. This defense mechanism targeting TEs is termed the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. In this opinion article, we draw attention to the situation that the genomes of cestodes and trematodes have lost the piwi and vasa genes that are hallmark characters of the germline multipotency program. This absence of Piwi-like Agos and Vasa helicases prompts the question: how does the germline of these flatworms withstand mobilization of TEs? Here, we present an interpretation of mechanisms likely to defend the germline integrity of parasitic flatworms.",

keywords = "Argonaute, Cestoda, Germline, PiRNA pathway, Piwi, Platyhelminthes, Transposable elements, Trematoda, Vasa, RNA, Small Interfering/genetics, Cestoda/genetics, DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics, Phylogeny, Argonaute Proteins/genetics, Genomic Instability/genetics, Animals, Trematoda/genetics, Protein Processing, Post-Translational",

author = "Skinner, {Danielle E.} and Gabriel Rinaldi and Uriel Koziol and Klaus Brehm and Brindley, {Paul J.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Dr Matty Knight for insightful comments on the manuscript. Support for doctoral studies (DES) from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of The George Washington University is gratefully acknowledged. These studies were supported by National Institutes of Health–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH–NIAID) award R01AI072773. ",

year = "2014",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.pt.2014.01.001",

language = "English",

volume = "30",

pages = "123--129",

journal = "Trends in Parasitology",

issn = "1471-4922",