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TEX15 is an essential executor of MIWI2-directed transposon DNA methylation and silencing.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Schöpp, Theresa 
Zoch, Ansgar 
Berrens, Rebecca V 
Auchynnikava, Tania 
Kabayama, Yuka 

Abstract

The PIWI protein MIWI2 and its associated PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) instruct DNA methylation of young active transposable elements (TEs) in the male germline. piRNAs are proposed to recruit MIWI2 to the transcriptionally active TE loci by base pairing to nascent transcripts, however the downstream mechanisms and effector proteins utilized by MIWI2 in directing de novo TE methylation remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that MIWI2 associates with TEX15 in foetal gonocytes. TEX15 is predominantly a nuclear protein that is not required for piRNA biogenesis but is essential for piRNA-directed TE de novo methylation and silencing. In summary, TEX15 is an essential executor of mammalian piRNA-directed DNA methylation.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Argonaute Proteins, Cell Cycle Proteins, DNA Methylation, DNA Transposable Elements, Female, Fetus, Gene Silencing, Genome, Germ Cells, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Protein Binding, Testis

Journal Title

Nat Commun

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723
2041-1723

Volume Title

11

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC