PiRNA dynamics in divergent zebrafish strains reveal long-lasting maternal influence on zygotic piRNA profiles.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that can have many deleterious effects on the fitness of their host. The germline-specific PIWI pathway guards the genome against TEs, deriving its specificity from sequence complementarity between PIWI-bound small RNAs (piRNAs) and the TEs. The piRNAs are derived from so-called piRNA clusters. Recent studies have demonstrated that the piRNA repertoire can be adjusted to accommodate recent TE invasions by capturing invading TEs in piRNA loci. Thus far, no information concerning piRNA divergence is available from vertebrates. We present piRNA analyses of two relatively divergent zebrafish strains. We find that significant differences in the piRNA populations have accumulated, most notably among active class I TEs. This divergence can b

SUBMITTER: Kaaij LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3677245 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature