Germ granules are biomolecular condensates that form in germ cells of all/most animals, where they regulate mRNA expression to promote germ cell function and totipotency. In the adult Caenorhabditis elegans germ cell, these granules are composed of at least four distinct sub‐compartments, one of which is the Z granule. To better understand the role of the Z granule in germ cell biology, we conducted a genetic screen for genes specifically required for Z granule assembly or morphology. Here, we show that zsp‐1, which encodes a low‐complexity/polyampholyte‐domain protein, is required for Z granule homeostasis. ZSP‐1 localizes to the outer surface of Z granules. In the absence of ZSP‐1, Z granules swell to an abnormal size, fail to segregate with germline blastomeres during development, and lose their liquid‐like character. Finally, ZSP‐1 promotes piRNA‐ and siRNA‐directed gene regulation and germline immortality. Our data suggest that Z granules coordinate small RNA‐based gene regulation to promote germ cell function and that ZSP‐1 helps/is need to maintain Z granule morphology and liquidity.

中文翻译：

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ZSP-1 是秀丽隐杆线虫中 Z 颗粒流动性和种系永生所需的 Z 颗粒表面蛋白

胚芽颗粒是在所有/大多数动物的生殖细胞中形成的生物分子凝聚物，它们在其中调节 mRNA 表达以促进生殖细胞功能和全能性。在成年秀丽隐杆线虫生殖细胞中，这些颗粒由至少四个不同的子隔室组成，其中一个是 Z 颗粒。为了更好地了解 Z 颗粒在生殖细胞生物学中的作用，我们对 Z 颗粒组装或形态所需的基因进行了基因筛选。在这里，我们展示了zsp-1，Z 颗粒稳态需要编码低复杂性/多两性结构域蛋白。ZSP-1 定位于 Z 颗粒的外表面。在没有 ZSP-1 的情况下，Z 颗粒膨胀到异常大小，在发育过程中不能与生殖系卵裂球分离，并失去其液体状特征。最后，ZSP-1 促进 piRNA 和 siRNA 导向的基因调控和种系永生。我们的数据表明，Z 颗粒协调基于小 RNA 的基因调控以促进生殖细胞功能，并且 ZSP-1 有助于/需要维持 Z 颗粒的形态和流动性。