Yb integrates piRNA intermediates and processing factors into perinuclear bodies to enhance piRISC assembly (14233)
piRNAs
direct Piwi to repress transposons to maintain genome integrity in Drosophila ovarian somatic cells. piRNA
maturation and association with Piwi occur at perinuclear Yb bodies, the
centers of piRNA biogenesis. Here, we show that piRNA intermediates arising
from the piRNA cluster flamenco (flam) concentrate into perinuclear foci
adjacent to Yb bodies, termed Flam bodies. RNAi-based screening of piRNA
factors revealed that Flam body formation depends on Yb, the core component of
Yb bodies, while Piwi and another Yb body component Armitage are dispensable
for the formation. Abolishment of the RNA-binding activity of Yb disrupts both
Flam bodies and Yb bodies. Yb directly binds flam, but not neighboring protein-coding gene, transcripts. Thus,
Yb integrates piRNA intermediates and piRNA processing factors selectively into
Flam bodies and Yb bodies, respectively. We suggest that Yb is the most
upstream, key factor in the cytoplasmic phase of the piRNA pathway in ovarian
somatic cells.