title: Germline specification: small things have a big role.
abstract: Germline cell fate is specified by localized OSK, VAS and other components in the pole plasm of the Drosophila embryo. New work shows that a PIWI-mediated miRNA pathway contributes to this process by regulating OSK and VAS localization.
authors.affiliation: Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Missouri 64110, USA.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011506:Proteins; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; C091675:osk protein, Drosophila; C116498:piwi protein, Drosophila; C088269:vas protein, Drosophila; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases