中文摘要：

piRNA是2006年7月在动物生殖细胞中发现的一类新小分子非编码RNA。piRNA特异地与PIWI家族蛋白相互作用,因此,被命名为PIWI-interacting RNA,简称piRNA。这类长度在26～32核苷酸的小分子非编码RNA代表了一个生殖细胞转座子沉默的独特小RNA通路。它们可能通过与PIWI家族蛋白质相互作用,在表观遗传学水平和转录后水平沉默转座子等基因组自私性遗传元件,参与生殖干细胞自我维持和分化命运决定、减数分裂、精子形成等生殖相关事件。在piRNA发现后短短数年的时间,对其生物发生、功能及作用机制的研究都取得了诸多重大突破。该文就piRNA研究的最新研究进展作一简述。

英文摘要：

A novel class of small non-coding RNA termed as PIWI-interacting RNA （piRNA） was recently discovered in the mammalian and Drosophila germline. Through interacting with PIWI family of proteins,the 26-32 nt long piRNA may represent a distinct small RNA pathway that contributes to transposon silencing in germ cells via novel mechanisms of epigenetic and posttranscriptional regulation. piRNAs and PIWI proteins are predominantly present in the germ cells and crucial to germline stem cell （GSC） self-renewal and differentiation,meiosis,spermiogenesis,and other gametogenic events. Impressive progresses have been achieved in understanding the biogenesis,function and mechanism of piRNA in the past year. A few of the recent progresses were summarized here.