Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that bind to the PIWI subclass of the Argonaute protein family and are essential for maintaining germline integrity. Initially discovered in Drosophila, PIWI proteins safeguard piRNAs, forming ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, crucial for reg...

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Main Authors: Mahammed Zaid Patel, Yuguan Jiang, Pavan Kumar Kakumani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1495035/full
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author Mahammed Zaid Patel
Yuguan Jiang
Pavan Kumar Kakumani
author_facet Mahammed Zaid Patel
Yuguan Jiang
Pavan Kumar Kakumani
author_sort Mahammed Zaid Patel
collection DOAJ
description PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that bind to the PIWI subclass of the Argonaute protein family and are essential for maintaining germline integrity. Initially discovered in Drosophila, PIWI proteins safeguard piRNAs, forming ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, crucial for regulating gene expression and genome stability, by suppressing transposable elements (TEs). Recent insights revealed that piRNAs and PIWI proteins, known for their roles in germline maintenance, significantly influence mRNA stability, translation and retrotransposon silencing in both stem cells and bodily tissues. In the current review, we explore the multifaceted roles of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in numerous biological contexts, emphasizing their involvement in stem cell maintenance, differentiation, and the development of human diseases. Additionally, we discussed the up-and-coming animal models, beyond the classical fruit fly and earthworm systems, for studying piRNA-PIWIs in self-renewal and cell differentiation. Further, our review offers new insights and discusses the emerging roles of piRNA-dependent and independent functions of PIWI proteins in the soma, especially the mRNA regulation at the post-transcriptional level, governing stem cell characteristics, tumor development, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-6f5dc53ee5364903a3cee01ea297e08a2025-08-20T02:20:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2024-12-011210.3389/fcell.2024.14950351495035Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and diseaseMahammed Zaid PatelYuguan JiangPavan Kumar KakumaniPIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that bind to the PIWI subclass of the Argonaute protein family and are essential for maintaining germline integrity. Initially discovered in Drosophila, PIWI proteins safeguard piRNAs, forming ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, crucial for regulating gene expression and genome stability, by suppressing transposable elements (TEs). Recent insights revealed that piRNAs and PIWI proteins, known for their roles in germline maintenance, significantly influence mRNA stability, translation and retrotransposon silencing in both stem cells and bodily tissues. In the current review, we explore the multifaceted roles of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in numerous biological contexts, emphasizing their involvement in stem cell maintenance, differentiation, and the development of human diseases. Additionally, we discussed the up-and-coming animal models, beyond the classical fruit fly and earthworm systems, for studying piRNA-PIWIs in self-renewal and cell differentiation. Further, our review offers new insights and discusses the emerging roles of piRNA-dependent and independent functions of PIWI proteins in the soma, especially the mRNA regulation at the post-transcriptional level, governing stem cell characteristics, tumor development, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1495035/fullpiRNAPIWImRNAretrotransposonsgene regulationstem cells
spellingShingle Mahammed Zaid Patel
Yuguan Jiang
Pavan Kumar Kakumani
Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
piRNA
PIWI
mRNA
retrotransposons
gene regulation
stem cells
title Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
title_full Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
title_fullStr Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
title_full_unstemmed Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
title_short Somatic piRNA and PIWI-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
title_sort somatic pirna and piwi mediated post transcriptional gene regulation in stem cells and disease
topic piRNA
PIWI
mRNA
retrotransposons
gene regulation
stem cells
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1495035/full
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AT yuguanjiang somaticpirnaandpiwimediatedposttranscriptionalgeneregulationinstemcellsanddisease
AT pavankumarkakumani somaticpirnaandpiwimediatedposttranscriptionalgeneregulationinstemcellsanddisease