piRNA与PIWI蛋白家族功能的研究进展

Research Progress of piRNA and PIWI Protein Family Function

生物体中的RNA可以分为编码RNA和非编码RNA两大类,非编码RNA中存在许多小分子RNA,它们组成了细胞中的RNA调控网络。近年来在哺乳动物的睾丸内发现了一种新型的非编码小分子RNA-piRNA,这种小分子RNA与Argonaute家族中的PIWI蛋白成员相结合才能发挥调控作用。两者共同参与基因表达和调控、蛋白质翻译、配子发生等生物学过程,对生物的生长发育产生了深远的影响。该文对piRNA和PIWI蛋白的结构、特性以及相互作用进行综述。

RNA in organisms can be divided into two categories-coding RNA and non-coding RNA, non-coding RNA contains many small RNAs, which composeRNA regulatory networks in ceils. In recent years, scientists discovered a new type of non-coding small RNA-piRNAs （piwi-interacting RNA） in the mammalian testis. This small RNA combines with PIWI protein members of Argonaute family to play its regu- latory role. They are jointly involved in gene expression and regulation, protein translation, gametogenesis and some biological processes and have a profound influence on the growth and development of the biological. Here is to make a review of the piRNA and PIWI protein structure,characteristics, and the interaction.