Featured
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Article
| Open Access
Unistrand piRNA clusters are an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to suppress endogenous retroviruses across the Drosophila genus
To control transposable elements, fruit flies rely on distinct genomic regions called piRNA clusters. Here, new piRNA clusters were identified across diverse Drosophila species, displaying a conserved and specialised role in the control of endogenous retroviruses in ovarian somatic cells.
- Jasper van Lopik
- , Azad Alizada
- & Benjamin Czech Nicholson
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Article
| Open Access
The non-redundant functions of PIWI family proteins in gametogenesis in golden hamsters
The role of PIWI proteins in mammalian reproduction remains poorly understood. Here, using golden hamsters, the authors establish expression profiles for all four PIWIs during gametogenesis and characterize their associated reproductive defects.
- Xiaolong Lv
- , Wen Xiao
- & Ligang Wu
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Article
| Open Access
Bombyx Vasa sequesters transposon mRNAs in nuage via phase separation requiring RNA binding and self-association
Bombyx Vasa assembles Vasa bodies, the site of transposon silencing by Siwi and Ago3-piRISC formation. Here, the authors show Vasa sequesters transposon mRNAs in Vasa bodies via phase separation requiring RNA binding and self-association of Vasa.
- Hiroya Yamazaki
- , Yurika Namba
- & Mikiko C. Siomi
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Article
| Open Access
Amniotes co-opt intrinsic genetic instability to protect germ-line genome integrity
Pachytene Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) expressed in mammalian germ lines are abundant, but their evolution and function are not fully understood. Here, the authors find that pachytene piRNA loci are hotspots of structural variation, which underlies rapid piRNA birth, divergence, and loss.
- Yu H. Sun
- , Hongxiao Cui
- & Xin Zhiguo Li
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Article
| Open Access
GLH/VASA helicases promote germ granule formation to ensure the fidelity of piRNA-mediated transcriptome surveillance
Phase separated, membrane-less germ granules preserve fertility and cellular function in animal germ cells. Here the authors show that loss of germ granules impacts piRNA pathway fidelity in the recognition of self and non-self nucleic acids.
- Wenjun Chen
- , Jordan S. Brown
- & Heng-Chi Lee
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Article
| Open Access
An evolutionarily conserved stop codon enrichment at the 5′ ends of mammalian piRNAs
Piwi-interacting RNAs are small RNAs produced by processing of long precursor transcripts. Here the authors report that precursor cleavage typically occurs at positions corresponding to stop codons and that this pattern is conserved across mammals.
- Susanne Bornelöv
- , Benjamin Czech
- & Gregory J. Hannon
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Article
| Open Access
Siwi cooperates with Par-1 kinase to resolve the autoinhibitory effect of Papi for Siwi-piRISC biogenesis
Siwi-piRISC protects the germline genome from DNA damage caused by selfish movement of transposons by suppressing their expression. Here, the authors show how molecularly Papi, which plays an important role in the production of Siwi-piRISC, cooperates with Par-1 kinase to ensure the accumulation of Siwi-piRISC in germ cells.
- Hiromi Yamada
- , Kazumichi M. Nishida
- & Mikiko C. Siomi
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Article
| Open Access
RNase κ promotes robust piRNA production by generating 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate-containing precursors
Mature piRNAs are produced from long single-stranded precursor RNAs. Here the authors show that RNase κ generates 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate-containing piRNA precursors and promotes piRNA production.
- Megumi Shigematsu
- , Takuya Kawamura
- & Yohei Kirino
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Article
| Open Access
Binding of guide piRNA triggers methylation of the unstructured N-terminal region of Aub leading to assembly of the piRNA amplification complex
PIWI protein contains arginine rich motifs that are post-translationally modified to symmetrically methylated arginine (sDMA) residues. Here the authors show that piRNA loading into Aub triggers sDMA modification which is recognized by Krimper to promote formation of Krimper-Aub-Ago3 complex for piRNA amplification in Drosophila.
- Xiawei Huang
- , Hongmiao Hu
- & Sisi Li
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Article
| Open Access
Germ granule dysfunction is a hallmark and mirror of Piwi mutant sterility
Piwi deficiency results in sterility and is associated with transposon expression and genomic instability. Here the authors show that sterility of C. elegans Piwi prg-1 mutant is not associated with transposon-induced DNA damage but is associated with and is phenocopied by dysfunction of germ granules.
- Maya Spichal
- , Bree Heestand
- & Shawn Ahmed
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Article
| Open Access
DEPS-1 is required for piRNA-dependent silencing and PIWI condensate organisation in Caenorhabditis elegans
The C. elegans PIWI protein PRG-1 resides in the membraneless organelle P granule. Here, the authors identify the constitutive P granule protein DEPS-1 as an interactor of PRG-1 and show its function in piRNA-dependent silencing. DEPS-1 and PRG-1 form elongated condensates in vivo.
- Kin Man Suen
- , Fabian Braukmann
- & Eric Alexander Miska
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Article
| Open Access
TEX15 is an essential executor of MIWI2-directed transposon DNA methylation and silencing
The PIWI protein MIWI2 counteracts transposon activity by transcriptional silencing in the mammalian germline. Here, the authors show that TEX15 interacts with MIWI2 and is required for piRNA-directed methylation of transposable elements in male germ cells.
- Theresa Schöpp
- , Ansgar Zoch
- & Dónal O’Carroll
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Article
| Open Access
24-nt reproductive phasiRNAs are broadly present in angiosperms
24-nt phased siRNA (phasiRNA) regulate reproduction in grasses, yet are absent from Arabidopsis, and were thought to be monocot-specific. Here, Xia et al. show that 24-nt phasiRNAs are in fact broadly distributed among eudicots and are consistently enriched during meiosis, despite possibly arising from distinct biogenesis pathways.
- Rui Xia
- , Chengjie Chen
- & Blake C. Meyers
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Article
| Open Access
Heterochromatin protein 1a functions for piRNA biogenesis predominantly from pericentric and telomeric regions in Drosophila
Heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) is thought to function downstream of transposon repression in the Drosophila female germline. Here the authors show that HP1a also functions upstream of piRNA processing by repressing splicing of piRNA precursors, predominantly at telomeric and centromeric regions.
- Ryan Yee Wei Teo
- , Amit Anand
- & Toshie Kai
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Article
| Open Access
TDRD5 binds piRNA precursors and selectively enhances pachytene piRNA processing in mice
Pachytene piRNAs are abundant piRNAs in mammalian adult testes but their biogenesis pathway is not fully understood. Here, the authors identify TDRD5 as a piRNA biogenesis factor in mice, showing that it binds piRNA precursors and promotes pachytene piRNA production from specific transcript regions.
- Deqiang Ding
- , Jiali Liu
- & Chen Chen
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Review Article
| Open Access
The emergence of piRNAs against transposon invasion to preserve mammalian genome integrity
Transposable elements can be activated during germ cell maturation, potentially leading to genome instability and rewiring of the genetic circuitry. In this review, the authors discuss how the piRNA machinery suppresses these elements to ensure accurate spermatogenesis.
- Christina Ernst
- , Duncan T. Odom
- & Claudia Kutter
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Article
| Open Access
piRNAs and Aubergine cooperate with Wispy poly(A) polymerase to stabilize mRNAs in the germ plasm
In Drosophila embryos, Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) loaded into the PIWI protein Aubergine target and destabilize maternal mRNAs. Here, the authors provide evidence that piRNAs and Aubergine cooperate with the Wispy poly(A) polymerase to stabilize these mRNAs in the germ plasm.
- Jérémy Dufourt
- , Gwénaëlle Bontonou
- & Martine Simonelig
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Article
| Open Access
PNLDC1 is essential for piRNA 3′ end trimming and transposon silencing during spermatogenesis in mice
piRNAs are regulatory RNAs that play a critical role in transposon silencing and gametogenesis. Here, the authors provide evidence that mammalian PNLDC1 is a regulator of piRNA biogenesis, transposon silencing and spermatogenesis, protecting the germline genome in mice.
- Deqiang Ding
- , Jiali Liu
- & Chen Chen
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Article
| Open Access
A somatic piRNA pathway in the Drosophila fat body ensures metabolic homeostasis and normal lifespan
The Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is known to suppress transposable elements in gonadal tissues. Here the authors provide evidence for a functional piRNA pathway in the somatic cells of theDrosophilafat body with roles in metabolism, immunological function and overall health.
- Brian C. Jones
- , Jason G. Wood
- & Stephen L. Helfand
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Article
| Open Access
Export of piRNA precursors by EJC triggers assembly of cytoplasmic Yb-body in Drosophila
In Drosophila ovarian follicle cells, piRNAs generated from RNA precursors are processed in cytoplasmic Yb-bodies. The authors identify the exportin and the exon junction complexes as required to transfer precursors to cytoplasm. They also show that Yb-body formation requires piRNA precursor export.
- Cynthia Dennis
- , Emilie Brasset
- & Chantal Vaury
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Article
| Open Access
A piRNA-like small RNA interacts with and modulates p-ERM proteins in human somatic cells
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) suppress transposon and gene expression during development. Here, the authors identify many piRNAs and piRNA-like small RNAs in 11 human cell lines, and show that one piRNA-like small RNA binds to phosphorylated ERM proteins to regulate cancer cell migration and invasion.
- Yuping Mei
- , Yuyan Wang
- & Li Mao
piRNA loading triggers MIWI translocation from the intermitochondrial cement to chromatoid body during mouse spermatogenesis