A mammalian-like piRNA pathway in Axolotl reveals the origins of piRNA-directed DNA methylation

ABSTRACT: The piRNA pathway protects animal germlines from active transposons. Mammals employ a cytoplasmic pathway to destroy transposon transcripts during germline reprogramming. This post-transcriptional mechanism is ancient and found throughout the animal kingdom. A nuclear piRNA pathway mediates transposon DNA re-methylation, which is believed to be bespoke to mammals. However, when exactly piRNA-directed DNA methylation evolved remains unknown. We found that a mammalian-like piRNA pathway evolved early in tetrapod evolution and is found and expressed in its current configuration in the axolotl salamander. Analysis of axolotl testes and oocytes revealed diverse repertoires of piRNAs and pervasive post-transcriptional targeting of young transposons. We identified high levels of genome methylatio

SUBMITTER: Xinyu Xiang 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44318-025-00631-W | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other