Dual roles for piRNAs in promoting and preventing transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans. Dual roles for piRNAs in promoting and preventing transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans

To explore the roles of piRNAs in regulating 22G-RNA production and transgenerational gene silencing, we used RNA-seq to assess changes in small RNA and mRNA levels in piwi/prg-1 and mutator mutants at an early generation and again at a late generation. We identified that in the absence of piRNAs, many genes gain 22G-RNAs which in turn guide transgenerational gene silencing. Overall design: Small RNA and mRNA high-throughput sequencing was done using RNA isolated from adult wild type and prg-1 and mutator mutant whole animals. Differential expression analysis was done to identify changes in gene expression in mutants relative to wild type animals.