DmGTSF1 is necessary for Piwi-piRISC-mediated transcriptional transposon silencing in the Drosophila ovary.
The Piwi-piRNA (PIWI-interacting RNA) complex (Piwi-piRISC) in Drosophila ovarian somatic cells represses transposons transcriptionally to maintain genome integrity; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we reveal that DmGTSF1, a Drosophila homolog of gametocyte-specific factor 1 (GTSF1) (which is required for transposon silencing in mouse testes), is necessary for Piwi-piRISC to repress target transposons and neighboring genes. DmGTSF1 depletion affected neither piRNA biogenesis nor nuclear import of Piwi-piRISC. DmGTSF1 mutations caused derepression of transposons and loss of ovary follicle layers, resulting in female infertility. We suggest that DmGTSF1, a nuclear Piwi interactor, is an integral factor in Piwi-piRISC-mediated transcriptional silencing.
['Ohtani|Hitoshi|H|', 'Iwasaki|Yuka W|YW|', 'Shibuya|Aoi|A|', 'Siomi|Haruhiko|H|', 'Siomi|Mikiko C|MC|', 'Saito|Kuniaki|K|']
D000818:Animals D060565:Argonaute Proteins D004251:DNA Transposable Elements D029721:Drosophila Proteins D004331:Drosophila melanogaster D005260:Female D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental D020868:Gene Silencing D009154:Mutation D009687:Nuclear Proteins D010053:Ovary D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
DmGTSF1 transposon Drosophila piRNA Piwi RNA silencing