PLoS ONE: Cloning of 鹌鹑PIWI gene and identification of its binding to small RNA

PIWI proteins regulate gene expression at both apparent and post-transcriptional levels by binding to a variety of endogenous non-coding small RNAs. However, in poultry, the biological function of PIWI protein and its mechanism of action in binding to small RNA are still unclear. Professor Chen Guohong from the College of Animal Science and Technology of Yangzhou University studied the mechanism of action*, and the research results were published in the December 2012 issue of PLoS ONE .

PIWI genes were first discovered in Drosophila germline stem cells (GSCs), and were further studied by the researchers because their encoded proteins can regulate the number and differentiation rate of GSCs. In Drosophila, the PIWI subfamily contains three members: PIWI, AUB, AGOs. For PIWI mutant individuals, both males and females showed infertility. In humans, PIWI protein is involved in the formation and development of tumors in addition to spermatogenesis.

In this study, the researchers first cloned the PIWI gene, and then used the second-generation sequencing technology to analyze the small RNA expression profile of alfalfa (completed by Lianchuan Biotechnology), and predicted the small binding with bioinformatics. RNA was further confirmed by immunoprecipitation and Western Blotting to elucidate its gene regulation during spermatogenesis. Finally, studies have shown that PIWI can bind to rap-associated small interfering RNAs (rasiRNAs) and is associated with miRNAs in sputum. Studies have shown that PIWIL1 binds to small RNAs in adult sputum testes, resulting in specific expression of PIWIL1 protein. In addition, miRNAs have differential expression in adult testis and ovary.

This study clarified the biological mechanism of PIWI protein in sputum, and laid a molecular foundation for further study of avian small RNA and its binding protein.

*R Chen., G Chang., Y Zhang, A Dai, T Ma et al. (2012) Cloning of the Quail PIWI Gene and Characterization of PIWI Binding to Small RNAs . PLoS ONE 7(12) e51724.

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