Article
- The EMBO Journal (2008) 27, 2702 - 2711
- doi:10.1038/emboj.2008.204
Published online: 2 October 2008
Subject Categories:
Zili is required for germ cell differentiation and meiosis in zebrafish
Saskia Houwing1, Eugene Berezikov1 and René F Ketting1
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Correspondence to:
René F Ketting, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 30 212 1800; Fax: +31 30 251 6464; E-mail: ketting@niob.knaw.nl
Received 8 July 2008; Accepted 15 September 2008
Abstract
Small RNAs exert an effect through diverse RNA interference pathways to transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally silence their targets. The Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) represent a germline-specific small RNA pathway where Piwi proteins themselves are thought to mediate piRNA biosynthesis. Here, we provide strong evidence for a piRNA amplification loop in zebrafish, in which Ziwi and Zili bind piRNAs of opposite polarity. Furthermore, we describe a function for Zili in transposon defense and germ cell differentiation, as well as a crucial function in meiosis, significantly extending the function of Piwi proteins beyond the control of transposable elements in vertebrates.
Keywords:
- germ cell differentiation,
- meiosis,
- piRNAs,
- Piwi,
- zebrafish
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