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The transcription factor Traffic jam orchestrates the somatic piRNA pathway in Drosophila ovaries

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is essential for transposable element (TE) silencing in animal gonads. While the transcriptional regulation of piRNA pathway components in germ cells has been documented in mice and flies, their control in somatic cells of Drosophila ovaries remains unresolved. Here, we demonstrate that Traffic jam (Tj), the Drosophila orthologue of large Maf transcription factors in mammals, is a master regulator of the somatic piRNA pathway. Tj binds to regulatory regions of somatic piRNA factors and the major piRNA cluster flamenco , which carries a Tj-bound enhancer downstream of its promoter. Depletion of Tj in somatic follicle cells causes downregulation of piRNA factors, loss of flam expression and de-repression of gypsy -family TEs. We propose that the arms race between the host and TEs led to the co-evolution of promoters in piRNA pathway genes as well as TE regulatory regions that both rely on a shared transcription factor. Highlights - Traffic jam (Tj) acts as a master regulator of the somatic piRNA pathway in Drosophila . - Tj regulates a network of piRNA pathway genes, mirroring the gene-regulatory mechanism of A-MYB in the mouse testis and Ovo in fly ovaries. - Cis -regulatory elements with Tj motifs are present at the promoters of somatic piRNA pathway genes. - The expression of the flamenco piRNA cluster is directly controlled by Tj.
Source: Cell Reports
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115453
Authors: Azad Alizada, Aline Martins, Nolwenn Mouniée, Julia V. Rodriguez Suarez, Benjamin Bertin, Nathalie Gueguen, Vincent Mirouse, Anna-Maria Papameletiou, Austin J. Rivera, Nelson C. Lau, Abdou Akkouche, Stéphanie Maupetit-Méhouas, Gregory J. Hannon, Benjamin Czech Nicholson, Emilie Brasset
Institutions: University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Inserm, Université Clermont Auvergne, Institut Génétique, Reproduction et Développement, Boston University, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Center
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,620
Funders: Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, Royal Society, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, National Institutes of Health, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Awards: G1097391449, G1555524315, Birth and Activation of a piRNA cluster, G2500139112, A small RNA based innate immune system guards germ cell genomes., A small RNA-based immune system guards germ cell genomes, The interplay between transposons and piRNA pathways., A small RNA based innate immune system guards germ cell genomes., A small RNA-based immune system guards germ cell genomes, G5110078156, G5447187783, G640145969, G6420447743, G6813841726, CHApiTRE : CHAracterization of piRNA cluster expression throughout development and their capacity to tame a sudden TRansposable Element activity
OpenAlex ID: W4409283331
FWCI: 6.986
Cites: 97
Cited by: 14
Related to: 10