title: PiRNAs biogenesis and its functions.
abstract: piRNAs (piwi-interacting RNA) are a novel class of non-coding small single-stranded RNAs with the length of 26-33 nt. The piRNAs play important biological role through the specific interaction with the piwi proteins of the Argonaute family. piRNA function in embryonic development, maintenance of germline DNA integrity, silencing of transposon transcription, suppressionof translation, formation of heterochromatin, and epigenetic regulation of sex determination. This review summarizes recent research and progress on biogenesis and function of piRNA in eukaryotic species.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jun Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Hong Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019849:Sex Determination Processes
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering