A member of the polymerase beta nucleotidyltransferase superfamily is required for RNA interference in C. elegans.

RNA interference is an ancient, highly conserved mechanism in which small RNA molecules (siRNAs) guide the sequence-specific silencing of gene expression . Several silencing machinery protein components have been identified, including helicases, RNase-related proteins, double- and single-stranded RNA binding proteins, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase-related proteins . Work on these factors has led to the revelation that mechanisms intersect with cellular pathways required for development and fertility . Despite rapid progress in understanding key steps in the duanyu1615 pathway, it is clear that many factors required for both duanyu1615 and related developmental mechanisms have not yet been identified. Here, we report the characterization of the C. elegans gene rde-3. Genetic analysis of presumptive null alleles indicates that rde-3 is required for siRNA accumulation and for efficient duanyu1615 in all tissues, and it is essential for fertility and viability at high temperatures. RDE-3 contains conserved domains found in the polymerase beta nucleotidyltransferase superfamily, which includes conventional poly(A) polymerases, 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), and yeast Trf4p . These findings implicate a new enzymatic modality in duanyu1615 and suggest possible models for the role of RDE-3 in the duanyu1615 mechanism.

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