One Loop to Rule Them All: The Ping-Pong Cycle and piRNA-Guided Silencing

Abstract

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is a conserved defense mechanism that protects the genetic information of animal germ cells from the deleterious effects of molecular parasites, such as transposons. Discovered nearly a decade ago, this small RNA silencing system comprises PIWI-clade Argonaute proteins and their associated RNA-binding partners, the piRNAs. In this review, we highlight recent work that has advanced our understanding of how piRNAs preserve genome integrity across generations. We discuss the mechanism of piRNA biogenesis, give an overview of common themes as well as differences in piRNA-mediated silencing between species, and end by highlighting known and emerging functions of piRNAs.

Keywords: PIWI proteins; piRNA biogenesis; ping-pong amplification loop; post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS); transcriptional gene silencing (TGS); transposon control.