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Piwi-interacting RNA
Function:
- largest class of human small non-coding RNA molecules
- piRNAs form RNA-protein complexes with piwi proteins
- piRNA-Piwi protein complexes are linked to both epigenetic & post-transcriptional gene silencing of retrotransposons & other genetic elements in germ line cells
- distinct from microRNA (miRNA)
- size: (26-31 nucleotides vs 21-24 nucleotides)
- lack of sequence conservation
Related
P-element induced wimpy testis in Drosophila; Piwi domain; Sting domain; Piwi box
Piwi-like protein 4 (PIWIL4, HILI2, PIWI)
General
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
References
- Wikipedia: Piwi-interacting RNA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piwi-interacting_RNA