title: The piRNA pathway in flies: highlights and future directions.
abstract: Piwi proteins, together with their bound Piwi-interacting RNAs, constitute an evolutionarily conserved, germline-specific innate immune system. The piRNA pathway is one of the key mechanisms for silencing transposable elements in the germline, thereby preserving genome integrity between generations. Recent work from several groups has significantly advanced our understanding of how piRNAs arise from discrete genomic loci, termed piRNA clusters, and how these Piwi-piRNA complexes enforce transposon silencing. Here, we discuss these recent findings, as well as highlight some aspects of piRNA biology that continue to escape our understanding.
authors: Watson School of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, United States.
authors: Paloma M
authors: PM
authors: Guzzardo
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Muerdter
authors: Gregory J
authors: GJ
authors: Hannon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D056426:Genetic Loci; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering