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Splicing factors facilitate RNAi-directed silencing in fission yeast

Allshire lab paper featured in Science.

Image from Allshire, Science 2008
A. Normal heterochromatin silences a marker gene inserted into centromeric repeats resulting in red colonies; defects in heterochromatin in splicing factor mutants cause increased marker gene expression turning colonies pink/white. B. Splicing factor mutants block the processing of non-coding centromeric transcripts into siRNAs, which are required to direct heterochromatin formation at centromeres.

Authors

Bayne EH, Portoso M, Kagansky A, Kos-Braun IC, Urano T, Ekwall K, Alves F, Rappsilber J, Allshire RC.

Science 322: 602-608. 24 October 2008

Summary

Many RNA processing events are thought to be coupled to transcription. In this paper the Allshire lab reports that proteins required for RNA splicing are also involved in the processing of non-coding RNAs derived from centromere repeats. These non-coding RNAs are processed by the RNAi pathway, resulting in formation of heterochromatin at the centromere.

Splicing factors interact with the RNAi machinery, and may provide a platform that promotes the processing of centromeric transcripts into siRNAs. These are required for heterochromatin formation at centromeres, which is essential for centromere function.

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