title: The mouse homolog of HEN1 is a potential methylase for Piwi-interacting RNAs.
abstract: Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a novel class of small regulatory RNAs that are expressed specifically and abundantly in germ cells. Mammalian piRNAs are 26-31 nucleotides in length and bind to Piwi proteins, but their function and biogenesis remain elusive. We previously showed that mammalian piRNAs are 2'-O-methylated at their 3' termini. The biosynthetic mechanism and function of this modification is unknown. Here, we report that the mouse homolog (mHEN1) of HEN1, a plant microRNA (miRNA) 2'-O-methyltransferase, is expressed specifically in testis and methylates 3' termini of piRNAs in vitro. These findings provide insight into the biogenesis of piRNAs.
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kirino
authors.forename: Zissimos
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mourelatos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D012266:Ribose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D008780:Methyltransferases; D035683:MicroRNAs; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA; D012266:Ribose; C498272:Nhlh1 protein, mouse; C448522:Piwil1 protein, mouse; C015362:D-2-O-methylribose; C052744:RNA 2'-O-methyltransferase