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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
An Integrated Approach for Microprotein Identification and Sequence Analysis
Published on: July 12, 2022
[Identification and expression analysis of Macaca mulatta piwil4 gene]
Shao-Zhi Zhao1, Yue Li, Xue Jiang
1Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. teszsz@163.com
Abstract:
To investigate the structure and expression pattern of rhesus monkey PIWIL4 protein, homologous comparison and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) were carried out to identify rhesus monkey piwil4. The expression of piwil4 mRNA was tested in rhesus monkey heart, brain, colon, epididymis and testis, and the result showed that piwil4 mRNA was expressed in these rhesus monkey tissues. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that the rhesus PIWIL4 protein shared 97% identity in amino acids and the same domains such as PAZ and Piwi with the human PIWIL4 (HIWI2) protein. The immunohistochemical result indicated that PIWIL4 proteins had the same localization in adult testes of the two species, but the distribution of these proteins was altered dynamically at different developmental stages in rhesus monkey testes. PIWIL4 protein was expressed in the nucleus of convoluted seminiferous tubules in infant monkey testes, whereas it was expressed in the cytoplasm of adult monkey testes. The results suggest that piwil4 gene play a similar role in rhesus and human, and different localizations of PIWIL4 protein in infant monkey and adult monkey testes suggest that it functions differently at different developmental stages.
Insights
The rhesus monkey PIWIL4 gene is similar to human PIWIL4 (HIWI2). PIWIL4 protein localization in testes changes from nucleus in infants to cytoplasm in adults, suggesting developmental roles.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Molecular genetics
- Primate research
Background:
- PIWIL4 is a member of the PIWI subfamily of Argonaute proteins, crucial in germline development and gene silencing.
- Understanding PIWIL4 in non-human primates like rhesus monkeys provides insights into conserved biological functions relevant to human health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the rhesus monkey PIWIL4 gene and protein.
- To investigate the expression patterns of PIWIL4 mRNA and protein in various tissues and developmental stages of rhesus monkeys.
Main Methods:
- Homologous comparison and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) were used to identify and analyze the rhesus monkey piwil4 gene.
- Bioinformatic analysis was performed to compare rhesus PIWIL4 with human PIWIL4 (HIWI2).
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine PIWIL4 protein localization in rhesus monkey testes at different developmental stages.
Main Results:
- Rhesus monkey piwil4 was identified, with its mRNA expressed in heart, brain, colon, epididymis, and testis.
- Bioinformatic analysis revealed 97% amino acid identity between rhesus and human PIWIL4, sharing conserved PAZ and Piwi domains.
- PIWIL4 protein localization differed between infant and adult rhesus monkey testes, being nuclear in infants and cytoplasmic in adults, mirroring adult human testes localization.
Conclusions:
- The rhesus monkey PIWIL4 gene shares significant structural and sequence homology with human PIWIL4 (HIWI2), suggesting conserved functions.
- Dynamic changes in PIWIL4 protein localization during testicular development in rhesus monkeys indicate stage-specific roles in germ cell regulation.
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