RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 An Epigenetic Role for Maternally Inherited piRNAs in Transposon Silencing
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 1387
OP 1392
DO 10.1126/science.1165171
VO 322
IS 5906
A1 Brennecke, Julius
A1 Malone, Colin D.
A1 Aravin, Alexei A.
A1 Sachidanandam, Ravi
A1 Stark, Alexander
A1 Hannon, Gregory J.
YR 2008
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/322/5906/1387.abstract
AB In plants and mammals, small RNAs indirectly mediate epigenetic inheritance by specifying cytosine methylation. We found that small RNAs themselves serve as vectors for epigenetic information. Crosses between Drosophila strains that differ in the presence of a particular transposon can produce sterile progeny, a phenomenon called hybrid dysgenesis. This phenotype manifests itself only if the transposon is paternally inherited, suggesting maternal transmission of a factor that maintains fertility. In both P- and I-element–mediated hybrid dysgenesis models, daughters show a markedly different content of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) targeting each element, depending on their parents of origin. Such differences persist from fertilization through adulthood. This indicates that maternally deposited piRNAs are important for mounting an effective silencing response and that a lack of maternal piRNA inheritance underlies hybrid dysgenesis.