Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene regulatory mechanism that is conserved across all animal species, including humans and the microscopic nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Many studies have identified the RNAi pathway factors and dissected the regulatory mechanisms of RNAi pathways, but there is little understanding of how the RNAi pathways themselves are regulated. Previously, Rogers and Phillips identified a feedback loop mediated by a pair of small RNA sensors, Sensor of siRNAs-1 (sosi-1) and eri-6[e-f], embedded within the genomic locus of a small RNA biogenesis factor, ERI-6/7. In this feedback motif, loss of small RNA-mediated silencing of sosi-1 and eri-6[e-f], triggers reduced eri-6 mRNA production. The loss of functional mRNA expression increases the small RNA production via other RNAi pathway branches. Because sosi-1 and eri-6[e-f] are in an intronic region, they were able to be removed from the genome without disrupting the expression or function of ERI-6/7. This research project aims to explore the long- and short- term effects of removing sosi-1 eri-6[e-f], thus creating a small RNA homeostasis mutant, on the longevity of C. elegans during normal and stressful conditions. To this end, we completed a transgenerational lifespan assay with sosi-1 eri-6[e-f] mutants and wild-type (N2) animal grown at normal conditions (20°C) and during heat stress (25°C). Our results show that wild-type C. elegans have longer lifespan than sosi-1 eri-6[e-f] mutants, likely because the proper balancing of the small RNA levels is required for homeostasis gene expression across the lifetime of the animal.
Disciplines
Genetics | Molecular Genetics
Publication Date
5-2025
Language
English
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Alicia Kathryn Rogers
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Dulal, Sejal, "RNAi Pathway Homeostasis is Essential for Longevity in C. elegans." (2025). 2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects. 4.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_spring2025/4