The piRNAs team to analysis of Drosophila germ cells

 Small molecule piRNAs (Piwi-interacting RNAs) in transposon repression andplays an important role in maintaining genomic stability, but the molecular mechanism of occurrence and regulation is still unclear. Provides a good model of Drosophila germ cells for the study of this mechanism.

Occurrence of Drosophila germ cells of piRNAs include primary processing and secondary processing of two processes, where piRNAs secondary processing pathway, also known as ping-pong cycle ("Ping-Pong", cycle) after PIWI family proteins (AGO3 and AUB) synergistic effect, can make the cells in the piRNAsamplification.

The hypothesis that, in the process of circulation in table tennis, a member of the PIWI family of AUB and AGO3 by RNA piRNA target recognition target shear,made piRNAs secondary cyclic amplification. But the endonuclease AGO3(Slicer) activity the role and how to play the role has been an important scientific problems to be solved in the field.

Chen Dahua Institute of laboratory animal studies have found that AGO3 Slicer activity on piRNAs secondary amplification is very important, AGO3 is not dependent on Slicer activity by AUB:AUB ping-pong cycle. As an important member of piRNAs primary processing pathway, Armitage protein usuallyappeared in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, but Slicer mutant AGO3 leads to Armitage protein in the piRNAs secondary processing sites on nuage cells.

Importantly, studies have found that AGO3 and Armitage interactions exist andare located in mitochondria.

In addition, AGO3 also interacts with another mitochondrial protein Zucchini,which regulates AGO3/Armitage complex between mitochondria and nuagedynamically shuttle, assembly and nuage participate in the AGO3 RISC complex.In addition, AGO3 also interacts with another mitochondrial protein Zucchini,which regulates AGO3/Armitage complex between mitochondria and nuagedynamically shuttle, assembly and nuage participate in the AGO3 RISC complex.

Secondary processing of mitochondrial and nuage regulation of piRNA, this view is proposed in this study. Thus in-depth understanding of piRNA pathogenesisobtained the theoretical basis is more important. The study found that in therecently published in the "Journal of Cell Biology".