Open AccessThe “Special”crystal-StellateSystem inDrosophila melanogasterReveals Mechanisms Underlying piRNA Pathway-Mediated Canalization
Author(s) -
Maria Pia Bozzetti,
Laura Fanti,
Silvia Di Tommaso,
Lucia Piacentini,
Maria Berloco,
Patrizia Tritto,
Valeria Specchia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
genetics research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.351
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2090-3154
pISSN - 2090-3162
DOI - 10.1155/2012/324293
Subject(s) - piwi interacting rna , drosophila melanogaster , transposable element , biology , hepatic stellate cell , genetics , mechanism (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , genome , gene , physics , quantum mechanics , endocrinology
The Stellate-made crystals formation in spermatocytes is the phenotypic manifestation of a disrupted crystal-Stellate interaction in testes of Drosophila melanogaster. Stellate silencing is achieved by the piRNA pathway, but many features still remain unknown. Here we outline the important role of the crystal-Stellate modifiers. These have shed light on the piRNA pathways that defend genome integrity against transposons and other repetitive elements in the gonads. In particular, we illustrate the finding that HSP90 participates in the molecular pathways of piRNA production. This observation has relevance for the mechanisms underlying the evolutionary canalization process.
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