title: A descent into the nuage: the maelstrom of transposon control.
abstract: In this issue of Developmental Cell, Soper et al. (2008) report that the mammalian MAELSTROM (MAEL) protein is critical for transposon silencing in the male germline. Loss of MAEL is associated with meiotic failure and DNA damage, suggesting that efficient transposable element restraining mechanisms must be in place for the preservation of germline integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Kathleen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Jef D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Boeke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022003:Cell Nucleus Structures / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D011506:Proteins