| First Author | Dai P | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Cell | Volume | 179 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1566-1581.e16 |
| PubMed ID | 31835033 | Mgi Jnum | J:288991 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6435555 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.022 |
| Citation | Dai P, et al. (2019) A Translation-Activating Function of MIWI/piRNA during Mouse Spermiogenesis. Cell 179(7):1566-1581.e16 |
| abstractText | Spermiogenesis is a highly orchestrated developmental process during which chromatin condensation decouples transcription from translation. Spermiogenic mRNAs are transcribed earlier and stored in a translationally inert state until needed for translation; however, it remains largely unclear how such repressed mRNAs become activated during spermiogenesis. We previously reported that the MIWI/piRNA machinery is responsible for mRNA elimination during late spermiogenesis in preparation for spermatozoa production. Here we unexpectedly discover that the same machinery is also responsible for activating translation of a subset of spermiogenic mRNAs to coordinate with morphological transformation into spermatozoa. Such action requires specific base-pairing interactions of piRNAs with target mRNAs in their 3' UTRs, which activates translation through coupling with cis-acting AU-rich elements to nucleate the formation of a MIWI/piRNA/eIF3f/HuR super-complex in a developmental stage-specific manner. These findings reveal a critical role of the piRNA system in translation activation, which we show is functionally required for spermatid development. |
