title: Domestic chickens activate a piRNA defense against avian leukosis virus.
abstract: PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) protect the germ line by targeting transposable elements (TEs) through the base-pair complementarity. We do not know how piRNAs co-evolve with TEs in chickens. Here we reported that all active TEs in the chicken germ line are targeted by piRNAs, and as TEs lose their activity, the corresponding piRNAs erode away. We observed de novo piRNA birth as host responds to a recent retroviral invasion. Avian leukosis virus (ALV) has endogenized prior to chicken domestication, remains infectious, and threatens poultry industry. Domestic fowl produce piRNAs targeting ALV from one ALV provirus that was known to render its host ALV resistant. This proviral locus does not produce piRNAs in undomesticated wild chickens. Our findings uncover rapid piRNA evolution reflecting contemporary TE activity, identify a new piRNA acquisition modality by activating a pre-existing genomic locus, and extend piRNA defense roles to include the period when endogenous retroviruses are still infectious.
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.
authors.forename: Yu Huining
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0333-2898
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.
authors.forename: Li Huitong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1400-5609
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghoneim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, United States.
authors.forename: Jarra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jagne
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Chengbo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.
authors.forename: Xin Zhiguo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6803-4600
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: PIWI; Red Jungle Fowl; White Leghorn; chicken; developmental biology; endogenous retrovirus; evolutionary biology; genomics; piRNA; stem cells; transposable element