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Handbook of Nutrition, Diet, and Epigenetics pp 187–209Cite as

Role of PIWI-Interacting RNA (piRNA) as Epigenetic Regulation

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Abstract

PIWI-interacting RNAs are a distinct group of small noncoding RNAs that are abundantly expressed in the animal germ line and are involved in silencing transposable genetic elements to maintain genome integrity. Accumulating evidence suggests that PIWI-interacting RNAs are also capable of mediating DNA methylation and thus can silence genes related to cancer, acting either as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In recent years, several studies have significantly improved the understanding of PIWI-interacting RNA biogenesis, characterization, and function. Here, we discuss these recent findings and highlight some aspects of the role of PIWI-interacting RNAs in epigenetic modifications, the possible cancer implications and the effect of nutrition. Finally, we provide a brief description of the PIWI-interacting RNAs data analysis workflow and suggest some potential biological and clinical applications of these important molecules.

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Abbreviations

10A:

Adenosine at position 10

AGO3:

Argonaute 3

AUB:

Aubergine

ChIP:

Chromatin immunoprecipitation

CTCs:

Circulating tumor cells

DMR:

Differentially methylated region

DNMT3L:

DNA-methyltransferase 3-like

DNMTs:

DNA methyltransferases

EMT:

Epithelial mesenchymal transition

ERM:

Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

H3K9:

Histone H3 lysine 9

HENMT1:

Hen methyltransferase homolog 1

HMTs:

Histone methyltransferases

HP1:

Heterochromatin 1 protein

LINE1:

Long interspersed element-1

lncRNAs:

Long noncoding RNAs

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

miRNAs:

MicroRNAs

ncRNAs:

Noncoding RNAs

NGS:

Next-generation sequencing

nt:

Nucleotides

piRISC:

piRNA-Induced silencing complex

piRNAs:

PIWI-interacting RNAs

piRNA-seq:

piRNA sequencing

PIWI:

P-element Induced Wimpy Testis

PNLDC1:

Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease PARN-like domain-containing protein 1

pre-piRNA:

piRNA precursor

SAM:

S-adenosylmethionine

SDMAs:

Symmetric dimethylarginines

siRNAs:

Small interfering RNAs

ssRNA:

Single-stranded RNA

Su (var) 3–9:

Suppressor of variegation 3–9

TDRD:

Tudor domain

TEs:

Transposable elements

Zuc:

Zucchini

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Núcleo de Pesquisas em Oncologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil

    Danielle Queiroz Calcagno, Elizangela Rodrigues da Silva Mota, Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira, Stefanie Braga Maia de Sousa & Paulo Pimentel Assumpção

  2. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Ophir Loyola, Belém, Pará, Brazil

    Rommel Rodríguez Burbano

Authors
  1. Danielle Queiroz Calcagno
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  2. Elizangela Rodrigues da Silva Mota
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  3. Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira
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  4. Stefanie Braga Maia de Sousa
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  5. Rommel Rodríguez Burbano
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  6. Paulo Pimentel Assumpção
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Danielle Queiroz Calcagno .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Research Division, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

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Calcagno, D.Q., Mota, E.R.d., Moreira, F.C., de Sousa, S.B.M., Burbano, R.R., Assumpção, P.P. (2019). Role of PIWI-Interacting RNA (piRNA) as Epigenetic Regulation. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Handbook of Nutrition, Diet, and Epigenetics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55530-0_77

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55530-0_77

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