PIWI proteins and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have established and conserved roles in repressing transposable elements (TEs) in the germline of animals. However, in several biological contexts, a large proportion of piRNAs are not related to TE sequences and, accordingly, functions for piRNAs and PIWI proteins that are independent of TE regulation have been identified. This aspect of piRNA biology is expanding rapidly. Indeed, recent reports have revealed the role of piRNAs in the regulation of endogenous gene expression programs in germ cells, as well as in somatic tissues, challenging dogma in the piRNA field. In this Review, we focus on recent data addressing the biological and developmental functions of piRNAs, highlighting their roles in embryonic patterning, germ cell specification, stem cell biology, neuronal activity and metabolism.

Keywords:
Drosophila embryonic patterning, Germ cells, Germline stem cells, Maternal mRNAs, Metabolism, Mouse spermatogenesis, mRNA localization, mRNA stability, piRNAs, PIWI proteins
Subjects:
Stem cells & regeneration

Funding

Work in M.S.’s lab is supported by UMR9002 Centre national de la recherche scientifique-University of Montpellier, by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-15-CE12-0019-01), the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, the Fondation pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, the Labex EpiGenMed and AFM-Téléthon.

© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
2018
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