Recurrent innovation of protein-protein interactions in the Drosophila piRNA pathway

ABSTRACT: Despite being essential for fertility, genome-defense-pathway genes often evolve rapidly. However, little is known about the molecular basis of this adaptation. Here, we characterized the evolution of a protein interaction network within the PIWI-interacting small RNA (piRNA) genome-defense pathway in Drosophila at unprecedented scale and evolutionary resolution. We uncovered pervasive rapid evolution of a protein interaction network anchored at the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) paralog Rhino. Through cross-species high-throughput yeast-two-hybrid screening, we identified three distinct evolutionary protein-interaction trajectories across ~40 million years of Drosophila evolution. While several protein interactions are fully conserved, indicating functional conservation despite rapid ami

SUBMITTER: Sebastian Riedelbauch 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44318-025-00439-8 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other