Department of Biological Sciences and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, The National University of Singapore, 117604, Singapore.
Cell Div. 2011 Feb 28;6:6. doi: 10.1186/1747-1028-6-6.
Nuage (or commonly known as chromatoid body in mammals) is a conserved germline-specific organelle that has been linked to the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. piRNAs are a class of gonadal-specific RNAs that are ~23-29 nucleotides in length and protect genome stability by repressing the expression of deleterious retrotransposons. More recent studies in Drosophila have implicated the piRNA pathway in other functions including canalization of embryonic development, regulation of maternal gene expression and telomere protection. We have recently shown that Vasa (known as Mouse Vasa Homolog in mouse), a nuage component, plays a mitotic role in promoting chromosome condensation and segregation by facilitating robust chromosomal localization of condensin I in the Drosophila germline. Vasa functions together with Aubergine (a PIWI family protein) and Spindle-E/mouse TDRD-9, two other nuage components that are involved in the piRNA pathway, therefore providing a link between the piRNA pathway and mitotic chromosome condensation. Here, we propose and discuss possible models for the role of Vasa and the piRNA pathway during mitosis. We also highlight relevant studies implicating mitotic roles for RNAs and/or nuage in other model systems and their implications for cancer development.
云体（在哺乳动物中通常被称为染色质小体）是一种保守的生殖细胞特异性细胞器，与 Piwi 相互作用 RNA（piRNA）途径有关。piRNA 是一类 23-29 个核苷酸长的性腺特异性 RNA，通过抑制有害逆转录转座子的表达来保护基因组稳定性。最近在果蝇中的研究表明，piRNA 途径在其他功能中也有涉及，包括胚胎发育的定型、母体基因表达的调节和端粒保护。我们最近表明，Vasa（在小鼠中称为 Mouse Vasa Homolog），一种云体成分，通过促进有丝分裂中 condensin I 在果蝇生殖细胞中的强有力的染色体定位，在促进染色体浓缩和分离方面发挥有丝分裂作用。Vasa 与 Aubergine（一种 PIWI 家族蛋白）和 Spindle-E/mouse TDRD-9 一起发挥作用，这两种云体成分都参与 piRNA 途径，因此提供了 piRNA 途径与有丝分裂染色体浓缩之间的联系。在这里，我们提出并讨论了 Vasa 和 piRNA 途径在有丝分裂过程中的作用的可能模型。我们还强调了其他模型系统中涉及 RNA 和/或云体的有丝分裂作用的相关研究及其对癌症发展的影响。
