ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2017, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (10): 1785-1795.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2017.10.001

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Research Progress on piRNA Formation and Function in Female Animals

LI Chun-yan1,2, REN Chun-huan2, LIU Qiu-yue1, HU Wen-ping1, WANG Xiang-yu1, CAO Xiao-han1, ZHANG Zi-jun2, DI Ran1*, CHU Ming-xing1*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
  • Received:2017-04-17 Online:2017-10-23 Published:2017-10-23

Abstract:

Following the discovery of siRNA and miRNA, a new class of small noncoding RNA, called piRNA, was found. piRNA can interact with Piwi subfamily proteins and they involve in piRNA pathways,which can protect genetic information of animal germ cells from the harmful effects of molecular parasites such as transposon. In recent years,piRNA biogenesis-related proteins and their biological effects were studied. It was found that a variety of Piwi subfamily proteins could bind to piRNA to form Piwi-piRNA complex. These complexes were involved in germ cells formation and development, germline stem cells differentiation, sex determination and other biological functions through the way of epigenetic regulation. In the present paper,we reviewed the research progress on the biogenesis and characteristics of piRNA,the ways of Piwi-piRNA complexes playing the biological roles and biological functions of piRNA in female animals, which will provide a reference for further research on regulatory mechanism of piRNA in female animal reproduction.

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