Novel functions of Drosophila melanogaster Argonaute2 for miRNA mediated silencing and early embryonic development [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Wibke Johanne Meyer

Novel functions of Drosophila melanogaster Argonaute2 for miRNA mediated silencing and early embryonic development Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf vorgelegt von Wibke Johanne Meyer aus Leer März 2006 Aus dem Institut für Genetik der Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf Gedruckt mit der Genehmigung der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf Referent: Dr. H.-A. J. Müller Koreferent: Prof Dr. R. Simon Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 23. April 2007 Für meine Familie Abstract Gene silencing mediated by small RNAs is a mechanism of post-transcriptional gene regulation. It is common for many eukaryotic cells. Argonaute proteins are essential components of RNA mediated silencing pathways. Unlike in other model organisms, in Drosophila different Argonaute proteins have been assigned to different RNA silencing pathways. It was shown that Argonaute1 (Ago1) is essential for microRNA (miRNA) mediated silencing while Argonaute2 (Ago2) is required for silencing triggered by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). dop dopThis thesis investigated a mutant allele of ago2, the female sterile mutation ago2 . ago2 mutations cause developmental defects in cellularisation and microtubule-based transport in early embryos.