English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are known to regulate transposon activity in germ cells of several animal models that propagate sexually. However, the role of piRNAs during asexual reproduction remains almost unknown. Aphids that can alternate sexual and asexual reproduction cycles in response to seasonal changes of photoperiod provide a unique opportunity to study piRNAs and the piRNA pathway in both reproductive modes. Taking advantage of the recently sequenced genome of the pea aphid  Acyrthosiphon pisum , we found an unusually large lineage-specific expansion of genes encoding the Piwi sub-clade of Argonaute proteins.  In situ  hybridisation showed differential expressions between the duplicated  piwi  copies: while  Api-piwi2  and  Api-piwi6  are “specialised” in germ cells their most closely related copy, respectively  Api-piwi5  and  Api-piwi3 , are expressed in the somatic cells. The differential expression was also identified in duplicated  ago3 :  Api-ago3a  in germ cells and  Api-ago3b  in somatic cells. Moreover, analyses of expression profiles of the expanded  piwi  and  ago3  genes by semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that expressions varied according to the reproductive types. These specific expression patterns suggest that expanded aphid  piwi  and  ago3  genes have distinct roles in asexual and sexual reproduction.

Expansion of Genes Encoding piRNA-Associated Argonaute Proteins in the Pea Aphid: Diversification of Expression Profiles in Different Plastic Morphs