Zili is required for germ cell differentiation and meiosis in zebrafish.
Small RNAs exert an effect through diverse RNA interference pathways to transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally silence their targets. The Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) represent a germline-specific small RNA pathway where Piwi proteins themselves are thought to mediate piRNA biosynthesis. Here, we provide strong evidence for a piRNA amplification loop in zebrafish, in which Ziwi and Zili bind piRNAs of opposite polarity. Furthermore, we describe a function for Zili in transposon defense and germ cell differentiation, as well as a crucial function in meiosis, significantly extending the function of Piwi proteins beyond the control of transposable elements in vertebrates.
Houwing
Saskia
S
Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Berezikov
Eugene
E
Ketting
René F
RF
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008540:Meiosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; C532956:Piwil2 protein, zebrafish; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C472855:piwil1 protein, zebrafish