PIWI-interacting RNAs: from generation to transgenerational epigenetics

TY - JOUR

T1 - PIWI-interacting RNAs: from generation to transgenerational epigenetics

AU - Luteijn, M.J.

AU - Ketting, R.F.

N1 - Reporting year: 2013

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Small-RNA-guided gene regulation is a recurring theme in biology. Animal germ cells are characterized by an intriguing small-RNA-mediated gene-silencing mechanism known as the PIWI pathway. For a long time, both the biogenesis of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) as well as their mode of gene silencing has remained elusive. A recent body of work is shedding more light on both aspects and implicates PIWI in the establishment of transgenerational epigenetic states. In fact, the epigenetic states imposed by PIWI on targets may actually drive piRNA production itself. These findings start to couple small RNA biogenesis with small-RNA-mediated epigenetics.

AB - Small-RNA-guided gene regulation is a recurring theme in biology. Animal germ cells are characterized by an intriguing small-RNA-mediated gene-silencing mechanism known as the PIWI pathway. For a long time, both the biogenesis of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) as well as their mode of gene silencing has remained elusive. A recent body of work is shedding more light on both aspects and implicates PIWI in the establishment of transgenerational epigenetic states. In fact, the epigenetic states imposed by PIWI on targets may actually drive piRNA production itself. These findings start to couple small RNA biogenesis with small-RNA-mediated epigenetics.

U2 - 10.1038/nrg3495

DO - 10.1038/nrg3495

M3 - Article

SN - 1471-0056

VL - 14

SP - 523

EP - 534

JO - Nature Reviews Genetics

JF - Nature Reviews Genetics

IS - 8

ER -