Frontiers in Microbiology (Oct 2022)

The Zinc-Finger protein ZCCHC3 inhibits LINE-1 retrotransposition

  • Zixiong Zhang,
  • Ning Zhang,
  • Saisai Guo,
  • Qian Liu,
  • Shujie Wang,
  • Ao Zhang,
  • Dongrong Yi,
  • Jianyuan Zhao,
  • Quanjie Li,
  • Jing Wang,
  • Yongxin Zhang,
  • Ling Ma,
  • Jiwei Ding,
  • Shan Cen,
  • Xiaoyu Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.891852
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Long-interspersed element 1 (LINE-1) is an autonomous non-LTR retrotransposon. Its replication can cause mutation and rearrangement of host genomic DNA, which may result in serious genetic diseases. Host cells therefore developed defense strategies to restrict LINE-1 mobilization. In this study, we reported that CCHC-type zinc-finger protein ZCCHC3 can repress LINE-1 retrotransposition, and this activity is closely related to its zinc-finger domain. Further studies show that ZCCHC3 can post-transcriptionally diminish the LINE-1 RNA level. The association of ZCCHC3 with both LINE-1 RNA and ORF1 suggests that ZCCHC3 interacts with LINE-1 RNP and consequently causes its RNA degradation. These data demonstrate collectively that ZCCHC3 contributes to the cellular control of LINE-1 replication.

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