Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 28 Kommunisticheskaya St., 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia.
Institute of Natural Sciences, Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University, 55 Oktyabrsky Prosp., 167001 Syktyvkar, Russia.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 27;22(5):2396. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052396.
Small RNAs are essential to coordinate many cellular processes, including the regulation of gene expression patterns, the prevention of genomic instability, and the suppression of the mutagenic transposon activity. These processes determine the aging, longevity, and sensitivity of cells and an organism to stress factors (particularly, ionizing radiation). The biogenesis and activity of small RNAs are provided by proteins of the Argonaute family. These proteins participate in the processing of small RNA precursors and the formation of an RNA-induced silencing complex. However, the role of Argonaute proteins in regulating lifespan and radioresistance remains poorly explored. We studied the effect of knockdown of Argonaute genes (AGO1, AGO2, AGO3, piwi) in various tissues on the Drosophila melanogaster lifespan and survival after the γ-irradiation at a dose of 700 Gy. In most cases, these parameters are reduced or did not change significantly in flies with tissue-specific RNA interference. Surprisingly, piwi knockdown in both the fat body and the nervous system causes a lifespan increase. But changes in radioresistance depend on the tissue in which the gene was knocked out. In addition, analysis of changes in retrotransposon levels and expression of stress response genes allow us to determine associated molecular mechanisms.
小 RNA 对于协调许多细胞过程至关重要,包括基因表达模式的调控、基因组不稳定性的预防以及转座子活性的抑制。这些过程决定了细胞和生物体的衰老、寿命以及对应激因素(特别是电离辐射)的敏感性。小 RNA 的生物发生和活性由 Argonaute 家族的蛋白质提供。这些蛋白质参与小 RNA 前体的加工和 RNA 诱导沉默复合物的形成。然而,Argonaute 蛋白在调节寿命和辐射抗性中的作用仍未得到充分探索。我们研究了在不同组织中敲低 Argonaute 基因 (AGO1、AGO2、AGO3、piwi) 对黑腹果蝇寿命和 700Gyγ 射线照射后存活率的影响。在大多数情况下,具有组织特异性 RNA 干扰的果蝇中,这些参数降低或没有显著变化。令人惊讶的是,脂肪体和神经系统中 piwi 的敲低都会导致寿命延长。但抗辐射能力的变化取决于基因敲除的组织。此外,对逆转座子水平和应激反应基因表达的分析使我们能够确定相关的分子机制。