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SUMMARY:A transmissible RNA pathway in honeybees - Dr Eyal Moari\, Wellcom
 e Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute
DTSTART:20171004T150000Z
DTEND:20171004T160000Z
UID:TALK73145@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fiona Roby
DESCRIPTION:Sequence-specific gene silencing mechanisms\, including RNA \n
 interference (RNAi)\, are induced and maintained by the presence of double
  stranded RNA (dsRNA). Systemic RNAi initiated by artificial dsRNA ingesti
 on has been reported in diverse invertebrates\, including honeybees\, demo
 nstrating environmental RNAi up-take and impact on the whole organism leve
 l. However\, the question why any organism would take up RNA from the envi
 ronment has remained unanswered. Here\, we report on horizontal transfer o
 f silencing RNAs among individual honeybees mediated by ingestion of worke
 r and royal jelly diets. We show that ingested dsRNA can be detected in th
 e honeybee's hemolymph associated with a protein complex. Furthermore\, RN
 A extracted from worker and royal jelly exposed a differential natural occ
 urrence of RNA populations. Some of these RNAs corresponded to honeybee pr
 otein coding genes\, transposable elements\, non-coding RNA and exogenous 
 viruses. Finally\, we identified and characterized a nucleic acid binding 
 royal jelly protein that binds RNA longer than 20 nt in a non-sequence spe
 cific manner. Remarkably\, RNA binding mediates higher order assembly of t
 he protein\, leading to the formation of large ribonucleoprotein complexes
  that protect RNA from degradation and enhance ingested RNA uptake. A tran
 smissible RNA pathway and its potential roles in social immunity and epige
 netic dynamics among honeybees and potentially other close interacting ind
 ividuals will be discussed. 
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 2\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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