Meioc-Piwil1 complexes regulate rRNA transcription for differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Ribosome biogenesis is vital for sustaining stem cell properties, yet its regulatory mechanisms are obscure. Herein, we show unique properties of zebrafish meioc mutants in which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) do not differentiate or upregulate rRNAs. Meioc colocalized with Piwil1 in perinuclear germ granules, but Meioc depletion resulted in Piwil1 accumulation in nucleoli. Nucleolar Piwil1 interacted with 45S pre-rRNA. piwil1 +/- spermatogonia with reduced Piwil1 upregulated rRNAs, and piwil1 +/- ;meioc -/- spermatogonia recovered differentiation later than those in meioc -/- . Further, Piwil1 interacted with Setdb1 and HP1α, and meioc -/- spermatogonia exhibited high levels of H3K9me3 and methylated CpG in the 45S-rDNA region. These results indicate that zebrafish SSCs maintain low levels of rRNA transcription with repressive marks similar to Drosophila piRNA targets of RNA polymerase II, and that Meioc has a unique function on preventing localization of Piwil1 in nucleoli to upregulate rRNA transcripts and to promote SSC differentiation.
Source: eLife
Institutions: National Institute of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Nagoya University, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute of Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Funders: Kumamoto University, National Institutes of Health, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
OpenAlex ID: W4412630662