Involved in gene silencing mediated by a class of 21 nucleotide PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) that possess a uracil residue at the 5'-end (also called 21U-RNAs) and that guide the Piwi protein prg-1 to its DNA targets for silencing (PubMed:33438773, PubMed:33231880). Not required for the biogenesis of 21U-RNAs (PubMed:33231880). May also be involved in gene silencing mediated by 22G-siRNAs (a class of 22 nucleotide endogenous small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that possess a triphosphorylated guanine residue at the 5'- end) and 26G-siRNAs (a class of 26 nucleotide siRNAs that possess a guanine residue at the 5'-end) (PubMed:33231880). Required for the biogenesis of secondary and tertiary 22G-siRNAs from many loci (PubMed:33231880). Specifically, promotes the production of 22G-siRNAs from the 5' end of target mRNAs (PubMed:33231880). May play a role in the production of 26G-siRNAs (PubMed:33231880). Plays a role in small RNA-directed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (also called RNAe) over several generations and germline immortality (PubMed:33438773, PubMed:33231880). Together with the argonaut protein hrde-1, promotes the silencing of the DNA transposable element Tc1 (PubMed:33231880). Required for the formation of liquid-like condensates in the cytoplasm called Z granules, playing a role in maintaining their assembly, viscosity and morphology in adult germ cells, and localization in early embryos (PubMed:33438773, PubMed:33231880). {Experimental EvidencePubMed:33231880, Experimental EvidencePubMed:33438773}.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Department of Biology
Biophysics & Bioinformatics Laboratory