LOTUS domain proteins in transposon silencing and translation control

• Applicant: Dr. Mandy Jeske
• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology ; Biochemistry ; Developmental Biology ; Structural Biology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 377227242

During their life cycle, sexually reproducing organisms generate germ cells, which are key for transmission of the genome to future generations and survival of the species. In some organisms, the formation of germ cells is genetically coupled to early embryonic patterning. Recently, a novel protein domain called LOTUS was identified by bioinformatics, which is highly conserved and found in the animal germline proteins Oskar, TDRD5, TDRD7, and MARF1. These LOTUS domain proteins are essential germline factors and their loss of function causes infertility and in some species also severe embryonic patterning defects. LOTUS domain proteins play a crucial role in translation control of specific mRNAs and thus in the regulation of expression of essential germline factors. Furthermore, LOTUS domain proteins are relevant for the piRNA synthesis pathway, which is key to protect the germline DNA from mutations caused by mobile elements (transposons). Hence, the piRNA pathway contributes to genome stability of the species. The molecular properties of LOTUS domain proteins and their specific roles within the control of translation and the piRNA synthesis pathway remain only poorly understood. The aim of the research is to structurally and functionally characterize this novel and essential protein family to provide mechanistic insight into important but poorly understood aspects of post-transcriptional control of gene expression in the germline.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups