PIWI-Interacting RNA in Drosophila: Biogenesis, Transposon Regulation, and Beyond

摘要: PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are germline-enriched small that control transposons to maintain genome integrity. To achieve this, upon being processed from piRNA precursors, most of which transcripts intergenic clusters, piRNAs bind PIWI proteins, germline-specific Argonaute form effector complexes. The mechanism this piRNA-mediated transposon silencing pathway is fundamentally similar siRNA/miRNA-dependent gene in a RNA guides its partner protein target for repression via RNA–RNA base pairing. However, the uniqueness has emerged through intensive genetic, biochemical, bioinformatic, and structural investigations. Here, we review studies elucidated pathway, mainly Drosophila, by describing both historical recent progress. Studies other species have made important contributions field also described.