Venkei, Z.G., Gainetdinov, I., Bagci, A., Starostik, M.R., Choi, C.P., Fingerhut, J.M., Chen, P., Balsara, C., Whitfield, T.W., Bell, G.W., Feng, S., Jacobsen, S.E., Aravin, A.A., Kim, J.K., Zamore, P.D., Yamashita, Y.M. (2023). A maternally programmed intergenerational mechanism enables male offspring to make piRNAs from Y-linked precursor RNAs in Drosophila.  Nat. Cell Biol. 25(10): 1495--1505.

FBrf0257805

Research paper

In animals, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) direct PIWI proteins to silence complementary targets such as transposons. In Drosophila and other species with a maternally specified germline, piRNAs deposited in the egg initiate piRNA biogenesis in the progeny. However, Y chromosome loci cannot participate in such a chain of intergenerational inheritance. How then can the biogenesis of Y-linked piRNAs be initiated? Here, using Suppressor of Stellate (Su(Ste)), a Y-linked Drosophila melanogaster piRNA locus as a model, we show that Su(Ste) piRNAs are made in the early male germline via 5'-to-3' phased piRNA biogenesis initiated by maternally deposited 1360/Hoppel transposon piRNAs. Notably, deposition of Su(Ste) piRNAs from XXY mothers obviates the need for phased piRNA biogenesis in sons. Together, our study uncovers a developmentally programmed, intergenerational mechanism that allows fly mothers to protect their sons using a Y-linked piRNA locus.

PMC10567549 (PMC) (EuropePMC)