美国麻省理工学院Yukiko M. Yamashita和麻省大学陈医学院Phillip D. Zamore研究团队合作发现，在果蝇中，母体编程的代际机制使雄性后代能够从Y连锁前体RNA中制造PIWI相互作用RNAs (piRNAs)。这一研究成果发表在2023年9月18日出版的国际学术期刊《自然—细胞生物学》上。

本研究以Y连锁果蝇piRNA位点星状抑制子(Su(Ste))为模型，发现Su(Ste) piRNA是在雄性生殖系早期通过母体沉积的1360/Hoppel转座piRNA启动的5′- 3′期piRNA生物发生而产生的。值得注意的是，来自XXY雌性的Su(Ste) piRNA沉积消除了在雄性后代中分阶段piRNA生物发生的需要。

总之，他们的研究揭示了一种发育程序化的代际机制，该机制允许果蝇母亲使用Y连锁piRNA位点来保护它们的雄性后代。

据了解，在动物中，piRNA指导PIWI蛋白沉默互补靶标，如转座子。在果蝇和其他具有母体指定生殖系的物种中，沉积在卵中的piRNA启动了后代的piRNA生物发生。然而，Y染色体位点不能参与这样的代际遗传链。

附：英文原文

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

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

Issue&Volume: 2023-09-18

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.

DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01227-4

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41556-023-01227-4