piRNA:一类新的非编码小RNA

Piwi-interacting RNA(piRNA):a Novel Class of Noncoding Small RNA

piRNA(Piwi-interacting RNA)是从哺乳动物生殖细胞中分离得到的一类长度约为30nt的小RNA,并且这种小RNA与PIWI蛋白家族成员相结合才能发挥它的调控作用。目前,越来越多的文献表明piRNA在生殖细胞的生长发育中的调控是由于Piwi-piRNA复合物引起的基因沉默导致的,但由于对piRNA的研究尚处于初级阶段,它的一些具体的功能和生源论尚在研究当中。综述了piRNA的最新研究进展。

piRNA （Piwi-interacting RNA） is a novel class of small single strand RNA that were recently isolated from testes of the mammals, associate with PIWI proteins, and are organized into distinct genomic clusters. These RNAs are typically 30 nt long, strikingly different from microRNAs in their length, expression pattern, and genomic organization, piRNA has a role in RNA silencing via the formation of an RNA-induced silencing complex （RISC） with Piwi proteins, these piRNA complexes （piRCs） have been linked to transcriptional gene silencing of retrotransposons and other genetic elements in germ line cells, particularly those in spermatogenesis. Recent researches and progresses of piRNAs are reviewed.