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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...
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The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
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Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells
10:06

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Published on: April 26, 2017

A broadly conserved pathway generates 3'UTR-directed primary piRNAs.

Nicolas Robine1, Nelson C Lau, Sudha Balla

  • 1Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|December 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary

A conserved primary piRNA pathway processes messenger RNA 3'UTRs into regulatory small RNAs. This pathway, distinct from the ping-pong amplification loop, selects specific cellular transcripts for metabolism, suggesting novel regulatory functions in metazoans.

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Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
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Published on: August 9, 2019

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Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
11:34

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

Published on: August 9, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs crucial in animal reproduction.
  • A known piRNA pathway restricts transposable elements via a "ping-pong" amplification loop.
  • Mammalian testes accumulate piRNAs of unknown function from noncoding RNAs, distinct from the ping-pong pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biogenesis and function of abundant piRNAs found in mammalian testes.
  • To determine if messenger RNA (mRNA) 3'UTRs are processed into piRNAs.
  • To explore the regulatory roles of this piRNA production pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of piRNA production from mRNA 3'UTRs in Drosophila, mouse, and Xenopus.
  • Utilized mutant analysis and Piwi-class immunoprecipitation.
  • Examined piRNA accumulation relative to host transcript levels and gene ontology enrichment.

Main Results:

  • mRNA 3'UTRs are processed into piRNAs in ovaries, testes, and eggs across species.
  • This biogenesis relies on primary piRNA components, not ping-pong factors.
  • piRNA production is selective, not proportional to transcript abundance, and enriched in specific gene categories.

Conclusions:

  • A conserved primary piRNA pathway processes cellular transcript 3'UTRs for regulatory purposes.
  • This expands the known scope of Argonaute-mediated small RNA systems in metazoans.
  • Identified a novel mechanism for generating regulatory small RNAs from coding transcripts.