A role for the C. elegans Argonaute protein CSR-1 in small nuclear RNA 3' processing.

The Integrator is a multi-subunit protein complex that catalyzes the maturation of snRNA transcripts via 3' cleavage, a step required for snRNA incorporation with snRNP for spliceosome biogenesis. Here we developed a GFP based in vivo snRNA misprocessing reporter as a readout of Integrator function and performed a genome-wide RNAi screen for Integrator regulators. We found that loss of the Argonaute encoding csr-1 gene resulted in widespread 3' misprocessing of snRNA transcripts that is accompanied by a significant increase in alternative splicing.

CCR4-NOT subunit CCF-1/CNOT7 promotes transcriptional activation to multiple stress responses in Caenorhabditis elegans.

CCR4-NOT is a versatile eukaryotic protein complex that controls multiple steps in gene expression regulation from synthesis to decay. In yeast, CCR4-NOT has been implicated in stress response regulation, though this function in other organisms remains unclear. In a genome-wide RNAi screen, we identified a subunit of the CCR4-NOT complex, ccf-1, as a requirement for the C.

Molecular characterization of ethyl carbamate toxicity in .

Ethyl carbamate is a common contaminant prevalent in fermented food with probable carcinogenic effects in animals. To date, other toxicological properties of ethyl carbamate are not well characterized. Using the genetic model , we found that chronic exposure to ethyl carbamate during larval development impedes growth while exposure during adulthood inhibits reproduction, shortens lifespan, and promotes degeneration to dopaminergic neurons.

Neuron-specific toxicity of chronic acrylamide exposure in C. elegans.

Acrylamide is a food-borne chemical with well-known neurotoxic properties. To date, the toxicity mechanisms of chronic acrylamide exposure are not fully understood. Using the genetic model Caenorhabditis elegans, we found that chronic acrylamide exposure induces a locomotor defect that is characterized by severe uncoordination of muscle movement that is distinct from an overall reduction in activity.