In RNA interference (RNAi), long double-stranded RNA is cleaved by the Dicer endonuclease into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which guide degradation of complementary RNAs. While RNAi mediates antiviral innate immunity in plants and many invertebrates, vertebrates have adopted a sequence-independent response and their Dicer produces siRNAs inefficiently because it is adapted to process small hairpin microRNA precursors in the gene-regulating microRNA pathway. Mammalian endogenous RNAi is thus a rudimentary pathway of unclear significance. To investigate its antiviral potential, we modified the mouse Dicer locus to express a truncated variant (DicerΔHEL1) known to stimulate RNAi and we analyzed how DicerΔHEL1/wt mice respond to four RNA viruses: coxsackievirus B3 and encephalomyocarditis virus from Picornaviridae; tick-borne encephalitis virus from Flaviviridae; and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) from Arenaviridae. Increased Dicer activity in DicerΔHEL1/wt mice did not elicit any antiviral effect, supporting an insignificant antiviral function of endogenous mammalian RNAi in vivo. However, we also observed that sufficiently high expression of DicerΔHEL1 suppressed LCMV in embryonic stem cells and in a transgenic mouse model. Altogether, mice with increased Dicer activity offer a new benchmark for identifying and studying viruses susceptible to mammalian RNAi in vivo.

In RNA interference (RNAi), the enzyme Dicer cuts long double-stranded RNA into small interfering RNAs that degrade matching RNAs. RNAi is a key antiviral defense in plants and invertebrates but vertebrates evolved a principally different antiviral defense. The authors genetically modified Dicer in mice to activate RNAi in mammals. These modified mice were tested against four RNA viruses but showed no significant antiviral response. However, further increased expression of modified Dicer did suppress one virus (lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) in embryonic stem cells and in a transgenic mouse model, suggesting that some viruses might be sensitive to increased RNAi activity in mammals.

• MeSH
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• malá interferující RNA genetika   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• přirozená imunita * genetika   MeSH
• ribonukleasa III * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA interference * MeSH
• virus encefalomyokarditidy genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• virus lymfocytární choriomeningitidy imunologie   genetika   MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy MeSH
• Dicer1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• malá interferující RNA MeSH
• ribonukleasa III * MeSH

Canonical RNA interference (RNAi) is sequence-specific mRNA degradation guided by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) made by RNase III Dicer from long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi roles include gene regulation, antiviral immunity or defense against transposable elements. In mammals, RNAi is constrained by Dicer's adaptation to produce another small RNA class-microRNAs. However, a truncated Dicer isoform (ΔHEL1) supporting RNAi exists in mouse oocytes. A homozygous mutation to express only the truncated ΔHEL1 variant causes dysregulation of microRNAs and perinatal lethality in mice. Here, we report the phenotype and canonical RNAi activity in DicerΔHEL1/wt mice, which are viable, show minimal miRNome changes, but their endogenous siRNA levels are an order of magnitude higher. We show that siRNA production in vivo is limited by available dsRNA, but not by Protein kinase R, a dsRNA sensor of innate immunity. dsRNA expression from a transgene yields sufficient siRNA levels to induce efficient RNAi in heart and muscle. DicerΔHEL1/wt mice with enhanced canonical RNAi offer a platform for examining potential and limits of mammalian RNAi in vivo.

• Klíčová slova
• Dicer, Mirtron, PKR, dsRNA, siRNA,
• MeSH
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• dvouvláknová RNA * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• malá interferující RNA * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mikro RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• protein - isoformy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• ribonukleasa III * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA interference * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy MeSH
• Dicer1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• dvouvláknová RNA * MeSH
• malá interferující RNA * MeSH
• mikro RNA MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• ribonukleasa III * MeSH

MicroRNA (miRNA) and RNA interference (RNAi) pathways rely on small RNAs produced by Dicer endonucleases. Mammalian Dicer primarily supports the essential gene-regulating miRNA pathway, but how it is specifically adapted to miRNA biogenesis is unknown. We show that the adaptation entails a unique structural role of Dicer's DExD/H helicase domain. Although mice tolerate loss of its putative ATPase function, the complete absence of the domain is lethal because it assures high-fidelity miRNA biogenesis. Structures of murine Dicer•-miRNA precursor complexes revealed that the DExD/H domain has a helicase-unrelated structural function. It locks Dicer in a closed state, which facilitates miRNA precursor selection. Transition to a cleavage-competent open state is stimulated by Dicer-binding protein TARBP2. Absence of the DExD/H domain or its mutations unlocks the closed state, reduces substrate selectivity, and activates RNAi. Thus, the DExD/H domain structurally contributes to mammalian miRNA biogenesis and underlies mechanistical partitioning of miRNA and RNAi pathways.

• Klíčová slova
• DExD, Dicer, PKR, RNAi, TARBP2, cryo-EM, dsRBD, dsRNA, helicase, miRNA, mirtron,
• MeSH
• mikro RNA * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ribonukleasa III * metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA interference MeSH
• savci metabolismus   MeSH
• transportní proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• komentáře MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• mikro RNA * MeSH
• ribonukleasa III * MeSH
• transportní proteiny MeSH

miRNAs, ~22nt small RNAs associated with Argonaute (AGO) proteins, are important negative regulators of gene expression in mammalian cells. However, mammalian maternal miRNAs show negligible repressive activity and the miRNA pathway is dispensable for oocytes and maternal-to-zygotic transition. The stoichiometric hypothesis proposed that this is caused by dilution of maternal miRNAs during oocyte growth. As the dilution affects miRNAs but not mRNAs, it creates unfavorable miRNA:mRNA stoichiometry for efficient repression of cognate mRNAs. Here, we report that porcine ssc-miR-205 and bovine bta-miR-10b are exceptional miRNAs, which resist the diluting effect of oocyte growth and can efficiently suppress gene expression. Additional analysis of ssc-miR-205 shows that it has higher stability, reduces expression of endogenous targets, and contributes to the porcine oocyte-to-embryo transition. Consistent with the stoichiometric hypothesis, our results show that the endogenous miRNA pathway in mammalian oocytes is intact and that maternal miRNAs can efficiently suppress gene expression when a favorable miRNA:mRNA stoichiometry is established.

• Klíčová slova
• NanoLuc, miR-10b, miR-205, miRNA, oocyte,
• MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mikro RNA * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• oocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• oogeneze genetika   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• zygota metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• messenger RNA MeSH
• mikro RNA * MeSH

RNA interference (RNAi) designates sequence-specific mRNA degradation mediated by small RNAs generated from long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) by RNase III Dicer. RNAi appears inactive in mammalian cells except for mouse oocytes, where high RNAi activity exists because of an N-terminally truncated Dicer isoform, denoted DicerO. DicerO processes dsRNA into small RNAs more efficiently than the full-length Dicer expressed in somatic cells. DicerO is expressed from an oocyte-specific promoter of retrotransposon origin, which is silenced in other cell types. In this work, we evaluated CRISPR-based strategies for epigenetic targeting of the endogenous Dicer gene to restore DicerO expression and, consequently, RNAi. We show that reactivation of DicerO expression can be achieved in mouse embryonic stem cells, but it is not sufficient to establish a robust canonical RNAi response.

• Klíčová slova
• CRISPR, Dicer, MS2, RNAi, VP64, dCas9, sgRNA,
• MeSH
• buňky 3T3 MeSH
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   MeSH
• embryonální kmenové buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• malá interferující RNA genetika   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) * MeSH
• ribonukleasa III antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   MeSH
• RNA interference MeSH
• sekvence CRISPR * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy MeSH
• Dicer1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• malá interferující RNA MeSH
• ribonukleasa III MeSH

Canonical RNAi, one of the so-called RNA-silencing mechanisms, is defined as sequence-specific RNA degradation induced by long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi occurs in four basic steps: (i) processing of long dsRNA by RNase III Dicer into small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes, (ii) loading of one of the siRNA strands on an Argonaute protein possessing endonucleolytic activity, (iii) target recognition through siRNA basepairing, and (iv) cleavage of the target by the Argonaute's endonucleolytic activity. This basic pathway diversified and blended with other RNA silencing pathways employing small RNAs. In some organisms, RNAi is extended by an amplification loop employing an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which generates secondary siRNAs from targets of primary siRNAs. Given the high specificity of RNAi and its presence in invertebrates, it offers an opportunity for highly selective pest control. The aim of this text is to provide an introductory overview of key mechanistic aspects of RNA interference for understanding its potential and constraints for its use in pest control.

• Klíčová slova
• RNAi, argonaute, dicer, dsRNA, miRNA, off-targeting,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Tens of thousands of rapidly evolving long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes have been identified, but functions were assigned to relatively few of them. The lncRNA contribution to the mouse oocyte physiology remains unknown. We report the evolutionary history and functional analysis of Sirena1, the most expressed lncRNA and the 10th most abundant poly(A) transcript in mouse oocytes. Sirena1 appeared in the common ancestor of mouse and rat and became engaged in two different post-transcriptional regulations. First, antisense oriented Elob pseudogene insertion into Sirena1 exon 1 is a source of small RNAs targeting Elob mRNA via RNA interference. Second, Sirena1 evolved functional cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements, an unexpected feature borrowed from translation control of specific maternal mRNAs. Sirena1 knock-out does not affect fertility, but causes minor dysregulation of the maternal transcriptome. This includes increased levels of Elob and mitochondrial mRNAs. Mitochondria in Sirena1-/- oocytes disperse from the perinuclear compartment, but do not change in number or ultrastructure. Taken together, Sirena1 contributes to RNA interference and mitochondrial aggregation in mouse oocytes. Sirena1 exemplifies how lncRNAs stochastically engage or even repurpose molecular mechanisms during evolution. Simultaneously, Sirena1 expression levels and unique functional features contrast with the lack of functional importance assessed under laboratory conditions.

• MeSH
• genový knockout MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   MeSH
• mitochondrie genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oocyty růst a vývoj   metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• polyadenylace genetika   MeSH
• RNA dlouhá nekódující genetika   MeSH
• RNA mitochondriální genetika   MeSH
• transkriptom genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• messenger RNA MeSH
• mitochondrial messenger RNA MeSH Prohlížeč
• RNA dlouhá nekódující MeSH
• RNA mitochondriální MeSH

Germline genome defense evolves to recognize and suppress retrotransposons. One of defensive mechanisms is the PIWI-associated RNA (piRNA) pathway, which employs small RNAs for sequence-specific repression. The loss of the piRNA pathway in mice causes male sterility while females remain fertile. Unlike spermatogenic cells, mouse oocytes posses also RNA interference (RNAi), another small RNA pathway capable of retrotransposon suppression. To examine whether RNAi compensates the loss of the piRNA pathway, we produced a new RNAi pathway mutant DicerSOM and crossed it with a catalytically-dead mutant of Mili, an essential piRNA gene. Normal follicular and oocyte development in double mutants showed that RNAi does not suppress a strong ovarian piRNA knock-out phenotype. However, we observed redundant and non-redundant targeting of specific retrotransposon families illustrating stochasticity of recognition and targeting of invading retrotransposons. Intracisternal A Particle retrotransposon was mainly targeted by the piRNA pathway, MaLR and RLTR10 retrotransposons were targeted mainly by RNAi. Double mutants showed accumulations of LINE-1 retrotransposon transcripts. However, we did not find strong evidence for transcriptional activation and mobilization of retrotransposition competent LINE-1 elements suggesting that while both defense pathways are simultaneously expendable for ovarian oocyte development, yet another transcriptional silencing mechanism prevents mobilization of LINE-1 elements.

• MeSH
• Argonaut proteiny genetika   MeSH
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy genetika   MeSH
• malá interferující RNA genetika   MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oocyty chemie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• retroelementy * MeSH
• ribonukleasa III genetika   MeSH
• RNA interference * MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Argonaut proteiny MeSH
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy MeSH
• Dicer1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• malá interferující RNA MeSH
• Piwil2 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• retroelementy * MeSH
• ribonukleasa III MeSH