Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
Genes Dev. 2014 Apr 1;28(7):665-71. doi: 10.1101/gad.241323.114.
The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway protects animal germline cells from transposable elements and other genomic invaders. Although the genome defense function of piRNAs has been well established, the mechanisms of their biogenesis remain poorly understood. In this issue of Genes & Development, three groups identify novel factors required for piRNA biogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. These works greatly expand our understanding of the piRNA pathway in worms, highlighting both its shared and its unique properties.
PIWI 相互作用 RNA (piRNA) 通路保护动物生殖细胞免受转座元件和其他基因组入侵。尽管 piRNAs 的基因组防御功能已经得到很好的确立，但它们的生物发生机制仍知之甚少。在本期《基因与发育》中，三个研究小组确定了秀丽隐杆线虫中 piRNA 生物发生所需的新因子。这些工作极大地扩展了我们对蠕虫中 piRNA 通路的理解，突出了其共享和独特的特性。
