Zhang Ling, Han xiao-dong
Laboratory of Immunology and Reproduction Biology / State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2016 Aug 20;22(8):746-750.
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs of 24－32 nucleotides (nt) in length, which were first found in 2006. The piRNAs in germ cells interact with reproduction-specific PIWI proteins and play an important role in the development of the reproductive system. In the reproductive system of the male mouse, piRNAs arise from long single stranded precursor transcripts expressed in discrete genomic regions. The productions of piRNAs are termed primary piRNA biogenesis and secondary piRNA biogenesis. Mature piRNAs can silence the genome instability threat posed by mobile genetic elements called transposons. Furthermore, piRNAs regulate the expression of mRNAs transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally in spermiogenesis. This review summarizes the biogenesis and key functions of piRNAs in the reproductive system of male mice.
PIWI相互作用RNA（piRNA）是一类长度为24至32个核苷酸（nt）的小型非编码RNA，于2006年首次被发现。生殖细胞中的piRNA与生殖特异性PIWI蛋白相互作用，并在生殖系统发育中发挥重要作用。在雄性小鼠的生殖系统中，piRNA产生于离散基因组区域表达的长单链前体转录本。piRNA的产生被称为初级piRNA生物合成和次级piRNA生物合成。成熟的piRNA可以沉默由称为转座子的移动遗传元件带来的基因组不稳定威胁。此外，piRNA在精子发生过程中对mRNA的转录和转录后表达进行调控。本综述总结了雄性小鼠生殖系统中piRNA的生物合成及其关键功能。
