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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.06.04.447173

Functional Recovery of the Germ Line Following Splicing Collapse

Cao, W.·Tran, C.·Archer, S. K.·Gopal, S.·Pocock, R.
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Abstract

Splicing introns from precursor-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) transcripts is essential for translating functional proteins. Here, we report that the previously uncharacterized Caenorhabditis elegans protein MOG-7, acts as a pre-mRNA splicing factor. Depleting MOG-7 from the C. elegans germ line causes intron retention in the majority of germline-expressed genes, impeding the germ cell cycle, and causing defects in nuclear morphology, germ cell identity and sterility. Despite the deleterious consequences caused by MOG-7 loss, the adult germ line can functionally recover to produce viable and fertile progeny when MOG-7 is restored. Germline recovery is dependent on a burst of apoptosis that likely clears defective germ cells, and viable gametes generated from the proliferation of germ cells in the progenitor zone. Together, these findings reveal that MOG-7 is essential for germ cell development, and that the germ line is able to functionally recover after a collapse in RNA splicing.

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Cao, W., Tran, C., Archer, S. K., Gopal, S., Pocock, R.. 2021-06-05. Functional Recovery of the Germ Line Following Splicing Collapse. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.04.447173

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