A new preprint is now available.
A new preprint is now available.
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are important for suppressing transfer factors (TEs) that migrate within genes. In many organisms, piRNAs are made by a complex process called the ping-pong pathway, but the significance of this process and its impact on piRNA types was not well understood. We compared two silkworm cell lines and found that the piRNA types varied significantly. This change is related to the efficient production of piRNAs and is thought to be due to competition within the ping-pong pathway. This competition also helps piRNAs avoid harmful mismatches. In short, the piRNA system was found to be very flexible and adaptive, optimised autonomously to compete against a variety of TE sequences.
