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Related Concept Videos

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
Non-nuclear Inheritance01:29

Non-nuclear Inheritance

Most DNA resides in the nucleus of a cell. However, some organelles in the cell cytoplasm⁠—such as chloroplasts and mitochondria⁠—also have their own DNA. These organelles replicate their DNA independently of the nuclear DNA of the cell in which they reside. Non-nuclear inheritance describes the inheritance of genes from structures other than the nucleus.

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Related Experiment Video

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Generation of Maternal Mutants Using zpc:cas9 Knock-in Zebrafish
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Generation of Maternal Mutants Using zpc:cas9 Knock-in Zebrafish

Published on: July 22, 2025

piRNAs in the germ line.

Haifan Lin1

  • 1Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. haifan.lin@yale.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 21, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Small noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression. A newly discovered class, Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), interacts with Piwi proteins, representing a distinct regulatory pathway in germ cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Small noncoding RNAs are key regulators of gene expression.
  • Gene regulation occurs at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.
  • A novel class of small RNAs has been identified in the mammalian germ line and Drosophila.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) as a distinct class of small RNAs.
  • To highlight the interaction of piRNAs with Piwi proteins.
  • To establish piRNAs as a unique small RNA pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of small RNA populations.
  • Analysis of RNA-protein interactions.
  • Characterization of small RNA pathways.

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Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans
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Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans

Published on: January 1, 2018

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Main Results:

  • Discovery of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs).
  • Demonstration of piRNA interaction with Piwi proteins.
  • Establishment of piRNAs as a distinct regulatory pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a novel class of small regulatory RNAs.
  • piRNAs function through interaction with Piwi proteins.
  • piRNAs represent a unique pathway for gene regulation in the germ line.