CaltechAUTHORS
Published April 2011 | Version public
Journal Article Metadata-only

PIWI-interacting small RNAs: the vanguard of genome defence

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Keio University
  • 2. ROR icon Japan Science and Technology Agency
  • 3. ROR icon California Institute of Technology

Abstract

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a distinct class of small non-coding RNAs that form the piRNA-induced silencing complex (piRISC) in the germ line of many animal species. The piRISC protects the integrity of the genome from invasion by 'genomic parasites' — transposable elements — by silencing them. Owing to their limited expression in gonads and their sequence diversity, piRNAs have been the most mysterious class of small non-coding RNAs regulating RNA silencing. Now, much progress is being made into our understanding of their biogenesis and molecular functions, including the specific subcellular compartmentalization of the piRNA pathway in granular cytoplasmic bodies.

Additional Information

© 2011 Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. Published online 23 March 2011. We thank H. Siomi, A. Nagao, A. Webster, N. Perkins and I. Olovnikov for comments on the manuscript. The work in the laboratory of M.C.S. is supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) grants to K.S. and M.C.S. M.C.S. is supported by the Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST) programme of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The work in the laboratory of A.A.A. is supported by the US National Institutes of Health (grants DP2 OD007371A and R00 HD057233‑02 to A.A.A.) and the Ellison Medical Foundation.

Additional details

Identifiers

Eprint ID
23340
DOI
10.1038/nrm3089
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20110414-105630858

Related works

Describes
10.1038/nrm3089 (DOI)

Funding

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
NIH
DP2 OD007371A
NIH
R00 HD057233‑02
Ellison Medical Foundation

Dates

Created
2011-04-14
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2021-11-09
Created from EPrint's last_modified field