title: Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by Piwi proteins and piRNAs.
abstract: Piwi proteins and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are essential for gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and stem cell maintenance in animals. Piwi proteins act on transposon RNAs by cleaving the RNAs and by interacting with factors involved in RNA regulation. Additionally, piRNAs generated from transposons and psuedogenes can be used by Piwi proteins to regulate mRNAs at the posttranscriptional level. Here we discuss piRNA biogenesis, recent findings on posttranscriptional regulation of mRNAs by the piRNA pathway, and the potential importance of this posttranscriptional regulation for a variety of biological processes such as gametogenesis, developmental transitions, and sex determination.
authors.affiliation: Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: toshwatatoshiakiwatanabe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: haifan.lin@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Haifan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000502:physiology*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering