| Mice Piwi protein |
| |
Mili |
Miwi |
Miwi2 |
| Year of gene discovery (first publication) |
2004 |
2002 |
2007 |
| Stages of expression [46,47] |
From gonocyte to pachytene spermatocyte (post-natal pre-pachytene stage) |
From pachytene spermatocyte to round spermatid (pachytene stage) |
14 dpc to 3dpp (fetal stage) |
| Outcomes in male germline with gene knockout or mutant [45] |
Arrest in early pachytene spermatocyte. Increase in germline apoptosis. Decrease in testes size. More piRNA loaded to Miwi2. |
Arrest at round spermatid. Decrease in testes size. Changes in Mvh localization. |
Arrest in leptotene spermatocyte. Increase in germline apoptosis. Germ cell depletion. |
| Molecular mechanism |
Able to form piRC with piRNA. The piRC will target DNA or RNA with sequence complementary to the piRNA and induce inhibition and degradation. |
| Bind and regulate Mvh, an factor essential for early spermatocyte stage [42] |
Bind and regulate Mvh.
TE control.
Amplify responsive piRNAs by ‘ping-pong’ cycles. |
TE control. [44]
Amplify responsive piRNAs by ‘ping-pong’ cycles. |