A maternally programmed intergenerational mechanism enables male offspring to make piRNAs from Y-linked precursor RNAs in Drosophila

Zsolt G. Venkei, Ildar Gainetdinov, Ayca Bagci, Margaret R. Starostik, Charlotte P. Choi, Jaclyn M. Fingerhut, Peiwei Chen, Chiraag Balsara, Troy W. Whitfield, George W. Bell, Suhua Feng, Steven E. Jacobsen, Alexei A. Aravin, John K. Kim, Phillip D. Zamore, Yukiko M. Yamashita

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In animals, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) direct PIWI proteins to silence complementary targets such as transposons. In Drosophila and other species with a maternally specified germline, piRNAs deposited in the egg initiate piRNA biogenesis in the progeny. However, Y chromosome loci cannot participate in such a chain of intergenerational inheritance. How then can the biogenesis of Y-linked piRNAs be initiated? Here, using Suppressor of Stellate (Su(Ste)), a Y-linked Drosophila melanogaster piRNA locus as a model, we show that Su(Ste) piRNAs are made in the early male germline via 5′-to-3′ phased piRNA biogenesis initiated by maternally deposited 1360/Hoppel transposon piRNAs. Notably, deposition of Su(Ste) piRNAs from XXY mothers obviates the need for phased piRNA biogenesis in sons. Together, our study uncovers a developmentally programmed, intergenerational mechanism that allows fly mothers to protect their sons using a Y-linked piRNA locus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1495-1505
Number of pages11
JournalNature Cell Biology
Volume25
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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