Mouse MOV10L1 associates with Piwi proteins and is an essential component of the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway

作者：Zheng Ke; Xiol Jordi; Reuter Michael; Eckardt Sigrid; Leu N Adrian; McLaughlin K John; Stark Alexander; Sachidanandam Ravi; Pillai Ramesh S^*; Wang Peijing Jeremy

来源：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010, 107(26): 11841-11846.

DOI：10.1073/pnas.1003953107

• meiosis
• RNA helicase
• transposon silencing

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are essential for silencing of transposable elements in the germline, but their biogenesis is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that MOV10L1, a germ cell-specific putative RNA helicase, is associated with Piwi proteins. Genetic disruption of the MOV10L1 RNA helicase domain in mice renders both MILI and MIWI2 devoid of piRNAs. Absence of a functional piRNA pathway in Mov10/1 mutant testes causes loss of DNA methylation and subsequent derepression of retrotransposons in germ cells. The Mov10/1 mutant males are sterile owing to complete meiotic arrest. This mouse mutant expresses Piwi proteins but lacks piRNAs, suggesting that MOV10L1 is required for piRNA biogenesis and/or loading to Piwi proteins.

• 出版日期2010-6-29