Silencing by small RNAs is linked to endosomal trafficking

Young Sik Lee, Sigal Pressman, Arlise P. Andress, Kevin Kim, Jamie L. White, Justin J. Cassidy, Xin Li, Kim Lubell, Do Hwan Lim, Ik Sang Cho, Kenji Nakahara, Jonathan B. Preall, Priya Bellare, Erik J. Sontheimer, Richard W. Carthew

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    293 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Small RNAs direct RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs) to regulate stability and translation of mRNAs. RISCs associated with target mRNAs often accumulate in discrete cytoplasmic foci known as GW-bodies. However, RISC proteins can associate with membrane compartments such as the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we show that GW-bodies are associated with late endosomes (multivesicular bodies, MVBs). Blocking the maturation of MVBs into lysosomes by loss of the tethering factor HPS4 (ref. 5) enhances short interfering RNA (siRNA)- and micro RNA (miRNA)-mediated silencing in Drosophila melanogaster and humans. It also triggers over-accumulation of GW-bodies. Blocking MVB formation by ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) depletion results in impaired miRNA silencing and loss of GW-bodies. These results indicate that active RISCs are physically and functionally coupled to MVBs. We further show that MVBs promote the competence of RISCs in loading small RNAs. We suggest that the recycling of RISCs is promoted by MVBs, resulting in RISCs more effectively engaging with small RNA effectors and possibly target RNAs. It may provide a means to enhance the dynamics of RNA silencing in the cytoplasm.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1150-1156
    Number of pages7
    JournalNature Cell Biology
    Volume11
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    We thank R. Cagan, H. Folsch, P. Sharp, G. J. Hannon, Q. Liu, X. Wang, C. Horvath, G. Goshima, V. Helfand, M. Lowe, I. Hariharan, D. Bilder, J. Treisman, M. Siomi and J. Pham for reagents; H. Folsch, I. Fields, A. Komuro, and D. Harris for help with some of the experiments; H. Jiang for help with statistics and the Bloomington Stock Center and the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank for fly strains and antibodies. Y.S.L. was supported by a FRAXA postdoctoral Fellowship; J.J.C. was supported by the CMBD Training Grant and J.B.P. was supported by a Presidential Fellowship. This work was also supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health to E.J.S. (GM072830) and R.W.C. (GM77581, GM68743), and from a grant from the Korean BioGreen 21 Program to Y.S.L. (20070301034036).

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Cell Biology

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