Kc167, a widely used Drosophila cell line, contains an active primary piRNA pathway

摘要: PIWI family proteins bind to small RNAs known as PIWI-interacting (piRNAs) and play essential roles in the germline by silencing transposons promoting germ cell specification function. Here we report that widely used Kc167 line, derived from Drosophila melanogaster embryos, expresses piRNAs are loaded Aub Piwi. produced a canonical, primary piRNA biogenesis pathway, phased processing of precursor transcripts Zuc endonuclease, Armi helicase, dGasz mitochondrial scaffold protein. derive cytoplasmic transcripts, notably tRNAs mRNAs, their abundance correlates with parent transcripts. The expression is robust Kc167, Piwi modest, while Ago3 undetectable, explaining lack transposon-related amplification Aub-Ago3, ping-pong mechanism. We propose default state machinery random transcript sampling allow generation any transcript, including newly acquired retrotransposons. This unmasked likely because they do not express cluster sufficient amounts amplify transposon piRNAs. use characterize an inactive isoform Since most genic, can be mapped uniquely genome, facilitating computational analyses. Furthermore, well-characterized line easily amenable experimental manipulations, expect it will serve excellent system study piRNA-related factors.