InnateDB: Systems Biology of the Innate Immune Response

Mus musculus Protein: Piwil2

Summary

InnateDB Protein

IDBP-178444.6

Last Modified

2014-10-13 [Report errors or provide feedback]

Gene Symbol

Piwil2

Protein Name

piwi-like homolog 2 (Drosophila)

Synonyms

mili; Piwil1l;

Species

Mus musculus

Ensembl Protein

ENSMUSP00000047385

InnateDB Gene

IDBG-178442 (Piwil2)

Protein Structure

UniProt Annotation

Function

Plays a central role during spermatogenesis by repressing transposable elements and preventing their mobilization, which is essential for the germline integrity. Plays an essential role in meiotic differentiation of spermatocytes, germ cell differentiation and in self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells. Its presence in oocytes suggests that it may participate in similar functions during oogenesis in females. Acts via the piRNA metabolic process, which mediates the repression of transposable elements during meiosis by forming complexes composed of piRNAs and Piwi proteins and govern the methylation and subsequent repression of transposons. Directly binds piRNAs, a class of 24 to 30 nucleotide RNAs that are generated by a Dicer- independent mechanism and are primarily derived from transposons and other repeated sequence elements. Associates with primary piRNAs in the cytoplasm and is required for PIWIL4/MIWI2 nuclear localization and association with secondary piRNAs antisense. The piRNA process acts upstream of known mediators of DNA methylation. Participates in a piRNA amplification loop. Besides their function in transposable elements repression, piRNAs are probably involved in other processes during meiosis such as translation regulation. Indirectly modulates expression of genes such as PDGFRB, SLC2A1, ITGA6, GJA7, THY1, CD9 and STRA8. Inhibits tumor cell growth when repressed. When overexpressed, acts as an oncogene by inhibition of apoptosis and promotion of proliferation in tumors. {ECO:0000269PubMed:11578866, ECO:0000269PubMed:14736746, ECO:0000269PubMed:16261612, ECO:0000269PubMed:17446352, ECO:0000269PubMed:18381894, ECO:0000269PubMed:18922463, ECO:0000269PubMed:19114715}.

Subcellular Localization

Cytoplasm {ECO:0000269PubMed:11578866, ECO:0000269PubMed:18922463, ECO:0000269PubMed:19114715, ECO:0000269PubMed:19465913, ECO:0000269PubMed:19584108}. Note=Present in chromatoid body. Probable component of the meiotic nuage, also named P granule, a germ-cell-specific organelle required to repress transposon activity during meiosis.

Disease Associations

Tissue Specificity

Expressed in adult testis, specifically in spermatocytes and in spermatogonia. Only detected in primordial germ cells of both sexes. Widely expressed in tumors. Also present at early stages of oocyte growth. Expressed in brain (at protein level). {ECO:0000269PubMed:11279525, ECO:0000269PubMed:11578866, ECO:0000269PubMed:12906857, ECO:0000269PubMed:18404146, ECO:0000269PubMed:18922463, ECO:0000269PubMed:19114715, ECO:0000269PubMed:19377467}.

Comments

Interactions

Number of Interactions

This gene and/or its encoded proteins are associated with 4 experimentally validated interaction(s) in this database.
They are also associated with 2 interaction(s) predicted by orthology.

Experimentally validated
Total	4 [view]
Protein-Protein	4 [view]
Protein-DNA	0
Protein-RNA	0
DNA-DNA	0
RNA-RNA	0
DNA-RNA	0

Predicted by orthology
Total	2 [view]

Gene Ontology

Molecular Function

Accession	GO Term
GO:0003676	nucleic acid binding
GO:0003729	mRNA binding
GO:0005515	protein binding
GO:0034584	piRNA binding

Biological Process

GO:0000966	RNA 5'-end processing
GO:0007126	meiotic nuclear division
GO:0007275	multicellular organismal development
GO:0007283	spermatogenesis
GO:0030718	germ-line stem cell maintenance
GO:0031047	gene silencing by RNA
GO:0034587	piRNA metabolic process
GO:0043046	DNA methylation involved in gamete generation
GO:0045727	positive regulation of translation
GO:0048477	oogenesis
GO:0060903	positive regulation of meiosis I