Journal article
Transcriptional regulation of the piRNA pathway by Ovo in animal ovarian germ cells
- Abstract:
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The gene-regulatory mechanisms controlling the expression of the germline PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway components within the gonads of metazoan species remain largely unexplored. In contrast to the male germline piRNA pathway, which in mice is known to be activated by the testis-specific transcription factor A-MYB, the nature of the ovary-specific gene-regulatory network driving the female germline piRNA pathway remains a mystery. Here, using Drosophila as a model, we combined multiple genomics approaches to reveal the transcription factor Ovo as regulator of the germline piRNA pathway in ovarian germ cells. Ectopic expression of Ovo in ovarian somatic cells activates germline piRNA pathway components, including the ping-pong factors Aubergine, Argonaute-3, and Vasa, leading to assembly of perinuclear cellular structures resembling nuage bodies of germ cells. We found that in ovarian somatic cells, transcription of ovo is repressed by l(3)mbt, thus preventing expression of germline piRNA pathway genes in the soma. Cross-species ChIP-seq and motif analyses demonstrate that Ovo is binding to genomic CCGTTA motifs within the promoters of germline piRNA pathway genes, suggesting a regulation by Ovo in ovaries analogous to that of A-MYB in testes. Our results also show consistent engagement of the Ovo transcription factor family at ovarian piRNA clusters across metazoan species, reflecting a deep evolutionary conservation of this regulatory paradigm from insects to humans.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 12.2MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1101/gad.352120.124
Authors
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/029chgv08
- Grant:
- 226627/Z/22/Z
- Publisher:
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
- Journal:
- Genes and Development More from this journal
- Volume:
- 39
- Issue:
- 3-4
- Pages:
- 221-241
- Publication date:
- 2024-12-20
- Acceptance date:
- 2024-11-11
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1549-5477
- ISSN:
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0890-9369
- Pmid:
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39797761
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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2080863
- Local pid:
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pubs:2080863
- Deposit date:
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2025-02-19
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Alizada et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2025
- Rights statement:
- © 2025 Alizada et al. This article, published in Genes & Development, is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 4.0 International), as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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