Identification and processing of piRNA precursors in C. elegans (B04)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 439669440

In the germ cells of most animals, small RNAs called piRNAs interact with proteins from the Piwi-sub-family of Argonaute proteins to protect the genome from excessive activity of transposable elements. Here, the role of 5’ and 3’ terminal RNA modifications in piRNA precursor selection and processing will be studied in C. elegans with Piwi protein PRG-1. A method for piRNA precursor isolation will be developed to identify additional RNA modifications on these, and study their role in distinguishing piRNA from other RNA processing reactions. Finally, the function of the newly identified CEY-1 in piRNA precursor processing will be studied.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 319: RMaP: RNA Modification and Processing
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Head: Professor René Ketting, Ph.D.