title: Getting a grip on piRNA cluster transcription.
abstract: The generation of piRNAs from long primary transcripts requires specialized factors that distinguish these precursors from canonical RNA polymerase II transcripts. Mohn et al. and Zhang et al. provide evidence that in Drosophila melanogaster noncanonical transcription coupled with splicing inhibition differentiates piRNA precursors from mRNAs and ensures their correct processing.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Gurdon Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapetschnig
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Gurdon Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK. Electronic address: eam29@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Miska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C000590395:Cuff protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C583035:del protein, Drosophila; C449641:rhi protein, Drosophila