The Endo-siRNA Pathway Is Essential for Robust Development of the Drosophila Embryo

摘要: Background: Robustness to natural temperature fluctuations is critical proper development in embryos and cellular functions adult organisms. However, mechanisms pathways which govern compensation remain largely unknown beyond circadian rhythms. Pathways ensure robustness against may appear be nonessential under favorable, uniform environmental conditions used conventional laboratory experiments where there is little variation for compensate. The endo-siRNA pathway, produces small double-stranded RNAs in Drosophila, appears be nonessential robust of the embryo ambient to be necessary only viral defense. Embryos lacking a functional pathway develop into phenotypically normal adults. we hypothesized that regulate embryo’s response temperature, as a ribonucleoprotein complex has been previously shown mediate mammalian cell heat shock. Principal Findings: Here, show genes DICER-2 ARGONAUTE2, code integral protein components of are essential Drosophila embryo when exposed perturbations. regulatory functions ARGONAUTE2 were uncovered by using microfluidics expose developing step, each half embryo develops at different through developmental cycle 14. Under this perturbation, dicer-2 or argonaute2 displayed abnormal segmentation. abnormalities segmentation presumably due the inability compensate temperature-induced differences rate coordinate developmental timing anterior posterior halves. A deregulation length nuclear division cycles 10–14 is also observed high temperatures. Conclusions: Results presented herein uncover novel function compensation and regulation, hypothesize degradation maternal cell cycle regulators. Endo-siRNAs have more general role buffering perturbations other organisms.