Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohrgasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Trends Genet. 2010 Dec;26(12):499-509. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.08.007.
Throughout the eukaryotic lineage, small RNA silencing pathways protect the genome against the deleterious influence of selfish genetic elements such as transposons. In animals an elaborate small RNA pathway centered on PIWI proteins and their interacting piRNAs silences transposons within the germline. In contrast to other small RNA silencing pathways, we lack a mechanistic understanding of this genome defense system. However, genetic and molecular studies have uncovered a fascinating conceptual framework for this pathway that is conserved from sponges to mammals. We discuss our current understanding of the piRNA pathway in Drosophila with an emphasis on origin and biogenesis of piRNAs.
在整个真核生物进化历程中,小 RNA 沉默途径保护基因组免受自私遗传元件(如转座子)的有害影响。在动物中,一个以 PIWI 蛋白及其相互作用的 piRNA 为中心的精巧小 RNA 途径在生殖系中沉默转座子。与其他小 RNA 沉默途径不同,我们缺乏对该基因组防御系统的机制理解。然而,遗传和分子研究揭示了一个从海绵动物到哺乳动物都保守的该途径的迷人概念框架。我们讨论了我们目前对果蝇中 piRNA 途径的理解,重点是 piRNA 的起源和生物发生。