The Levels of the RoRNP-Associated Y RNA Are Dependent Upon the Presence of ROP-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans Ro60 Protein

The Ro ribonucleoproteins (RoRNP) consist of at least one major protein of 60 kD, Ro60, and one small associated RNA, designated Y RNA. Although RoRNP have been found in all vertebrate species examined so far, their function remains unknown. The Caenorhabditis elegans rop-1 gene previously has been...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetics (Austin) 1999-01, Vol.151 (1), p.143-150
Main Authors: Labbe, Jean-Claude, Hekimi, Siegfried, Rokeach, Luis A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Autoantigens - genetics
Autoantigens - physiology
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans - physiology
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
Gene Expression
Genetics
Germ Cells
Helminth Proteins - genetics
Helminth Proteins - physiology
Mutagenesis
Phenotype
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Proteins
Ribonucleic acid
Ribonucleoproteins - genetics
Ribonucleoproteins - physiology
RNA
RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
RNA, Helminth - metabolism
RNA, Ribosomal, 5S
RNA, Small Cytoplasmic
Transgenes
Worms
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Summary:The Ro ribonucleoproteins (RoRNP) consist of at least one major protein of 60 kD, Ro60, and one small associated RNA, designated Y RNA. Although RoRNP have been found in all vertebrate species examined so far, their function remains unknown. The Caenorhabditis elegans rop-1 gene previously has been identified as encoding a Ro60 homologue. We report here the phenotypic characterization of a C. elegans strain in which rop-1 has been disrupted. This is the first report regarding the inactivation of a major RoRNP constituent in any organism. The rop-1 mutant worms display no visible defects. However, at the molecular level, the disruption of rop-1 results in a dramatic decrease in the levels of the ROP-1-associated RNA (CeY RNA). Moreover, transgenic expression of wild-type rop-1 partially rescues the levels of CeY RNA. Considering that transgenes are poorly expressed in the germline, the fact that the rescue is only partial is most likely related to the high abundance of the CeY RNA in the adult germline and in embryos. The developmental expression pattern and localization of CeY RNA suggest a role for this molecule during embryogenesis. We conclude that, under laboratory culture conditions, ROP-1 does not play a crucial role in C. elegans.
ISSN:0016-6731
1943-2631
1943-2631
DOI:10.1093/genetics/151.1.143