The RNA Polymerase II core subunit RPB-9 directs transcriptional elongation at piRNA loci in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are genome-encoded small RNAs that regulate germ cell development and maintain germline integrity in many animals. Mature piRNAs engage Piwi Argonaute proteins to silence complementary transcripts, including transposable elements and endogenous genes. piRNA biogenesis mechanisms are diverse and remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II) core subunit RPB-9 as required for piRNA-mediated silencing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. rpb-9 mutants fail to initiate heritable piRNA-mediated gene silencing. Furthermore, we show that RPB-9 is required to repress two DNA transposon families and a subset of somatic genes in the C. elegans germline. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that RPB-9 is required for piRNA biogenesis. We demonstrate that RPB-9 acts to promote transcriptional elongation/termination at endogenous piRNA loci. We conclude that as a part of its rapid evolution the piRNA pathway has co-opted another ancient machinery, this time for high-fidelity transcription.