Aub, Vasa and Armi localization to phase separated nuage is dispensable for piRNA biogenesis and transposon silencing in <i>Drosophila</i>.

ABSTRACT: From nematodes to placental mammals, key components of the germline transposon silencing piRNAs pathway localize to phase separated perinuclear granules. In Drosophila, the PIWI protein Aub, DEAD box protein Vasa and helicase Armi localize to nuage granules and are required for ping-pong piRNA amplification and phased piRNA processing. Drosophila piRNA mutants lead to genome instability and Chk2 kinase DNA damage signaling. By systematically analyzing piRNA pathway organization, small RNA production, and long RNA expression in single piRNA mutants and corresponding chk2/mnk double mutants, we show that Chk2 activation disrupts nuage localization of Aub and Vasa, and that the HP1 homolog Rhino, which drives piRNA precursor transcription, is required for Aub, Vasa, and A

SUBMITTER: Ho S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10402007 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature