The interplay between the Argonaute proteins Piwi and Aub within Drosophila germarium is critical for oogenesis, piRNA biogenesis and TE silencing.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TEs) have invaded most genomes and constitute up to 50% of the human genome. Machinery based on small non-coding piRNAs has evolved to inhibit their expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Surprisingly, this machinery is weakened during specific windows of time in mice, flies or plants, allowing the expression of TEs in germline cells. The function of this de-repression remains unknown. In Drosophila, we have previously shown that this developmental window is characterized by a reduction of Piwi expression in dividing germ cells. Here, we show that the unique knock-down of Aub in these cells leads to female sterility. It correlates with defects in piRNA amplification, an increased Piwi expression and an increased silencing of transcriptiona

SUBMITTER: Theron E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6212714 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature