Conserved host genes act as anchors for fast-evolving piRNA clusters via promoter hijacking

Aleksandr Friman1,2, Anand Swaroop1

  • 1Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA.

Research Square
|June 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Promoter hijacking allows dual-function loci to maintain essential gene functions while rapidly evolving piRNA clusters for genomic immunity. This mechanism updates immune memory without compromising host gene stability.

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