Programmed fluctuations in sense/antisense transcript ratios drive sexual differentiation in S. pombe.

Danny A. Bitton, Agnes Grallert, Paul J. Scutt, Tim Yates, Yaoyong Li, James R. Bradford, Yvonne Hey, Stuart D. Pepper, Iain M. Hagan, Crispin J. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Strand-specific RNA sequencing of S. pombe revealed a highly structured programme of ncRNA expression at over 600 loci. Waves of antisense transcription accompanied sexual differentiation. A substantial proportion of ncRNA arose from mechanisms previously considered to be largely artefactual, including improper 3' termination and bidirectional transcription. Constitutive induction of the entire spk1+, spo4+, dis1+ and spo6+ antisense transcripts from an integrated, ectopic, locus disrupted their respective meiotic functions. This ability of antisense transcripts to disrupt gene function when expressed in trans suggests that cis production at native loci during sexual differentiation may also control gene function. Consistently, insertion of a marker gene adjacent to the dis1+ antisense start site mimicked ectopic antisense expression in reducing the levels of this microtubule regulator and abolishing the microtubule-dependent 'horsetail' stage of meiosis. Antisense production had no impact at any of these loci when the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery was removed. Thus, far from being simply 'genome chatter', this extensive ncRNA landscape constitutes a fundamental component in the controls that drive the complex programme of sexual differentiation in S. pombe.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)559
JournalMolecular Systems Biology
Volume7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Manchester Cancer Research Centre

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