Document Type
Report
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) maintain transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans. siRNAs are loaded into Argonaute proteins to form an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which functions in the nucleus or cytoplasm. In the nucleus, RISC directs the establishment of H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) to silence loci. One nuclear Argonaute protein is HRDE-1. Here, we show that HRDE-1 is required for development and maturation in C. elegans. Brood size assays of hrde-1 mutants and wild-type (N2) hermaphrodites grown at permissive temperature (20℃) and under heat stress conditions (25℃) were performed to examine the number of eggs laid, eggs hatched, and matured progeny. We found hrde-1 mutants lay more eggs than wild-type animals but have a mild embryonic lethality phenotype. The effect is exacerbated at 25ºC, and after four generations, hrde-1 mutants become sterile. Furthermore, hrde-1 animals take longer than wild-type animals to start egg laying, suggesting HRDE-1 is critical for sexual maturation.
Publication Date
12-1-2023
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Zourkout, Hadeel Ali, "NUCLEAR ARGONAUTE HRDE-1 IS REQUIRED FOR PROPER DEVELOPMENT AND MATURATION IN C. ELEGANS" (2023). 2023 Fall Honors Capstone Projects. 4.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2023/4