RNA silencing: small RNA biogenesis & functions
Our lab studies small RNA-mediated gene silencing, or RNA silencing, to understand the underlying mechanisms using Drosophila as a model system. We currently focus on piRNAs, germline-specific small RNAs. The main targets of piRNAs are transposons, whose selfish transposition in the genome causes DNA damage, leading to a failure in gametogenesis and infertility. piRNAs run an arms race with transposons to maintain germline genome integrity.
Keywords
RNA silencing in Drosophila / piRISC-mediated transposon silencing in the gonads / transcriptional & post-transcriptional gene repression / piRNA biogenesis / PIWI proteins