Ziwi, the zebrafish homologue of the Drosophila piwi: co-localization with vasa at the embryonic genital ridge and gonad-specific expression in the adults

Tan, C.H.; Lee, Thean-Chu; Weeraratne, Shyamal Dilhan; Korzh, Vladimir; Lim, Teck Guan; Gong, Zhiyuan

doi:10.1016/s0925-4773(03)00120-5

Cited by 56 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…By RT-PCR and ISH we find that Opiwi expression occurs not only in embryonic and adult germ cells of both sexes but also in the embryonic and adult CNS. Expression in the CNS and tail bud has also been reported for the zebrafish piwi [20]. Medaka and zebrafish are distantly related and separated ~320 million years ago [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…This is consistent with the maternal inheritance of Opiwi in this organism. Maternal inheritance of piwi has also been documented in zebrafish [20] and Xenopus [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…piwi is highly conserved across animal phyla and has been identified in diverse species including the sponge [17], planarian [18], Xenopus [19], zebrafish [20], mouse [21] and human [22]. Piwi is characterized by two major protein motifs: PAZ and PIWI domains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medaka piwi is Essential for Primordial Germ Cell Migration

Li¹,

Hóng²,

Gui

et al. 2012

CMM

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Piwi controls the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) via protecting maternal mRNA from decay and adult germ stem cell division in Drosophila. In mouse and zebrafish, piwi controls maintenance and differentiation of adult germ stem cell during gametogenesis. Whether piwi plays a role in PGC development of vertebrates remains unsolved. We addressed this issue by using medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a vertebrate model. Molecular cloning, sequence comparison and analyses of genomic organization and chromosome synteny led to the identification in this fish of a single piwi gene, called Opiwi. By RT-PCR analyses and in situ hybridization, the Opiwi transcript is maternally supplied and becomes restricted to PGCs and the central nervous system (CNS). Opiwi knockdown did not prevent PGC formation even in the absence of any somatic structures but did significantly reduce the number of PGCs in vivo and in vitro and affect the distribution of PGCs in developing embryos. Surprisingly, depletion of zygotic Opiwi severely and specifically affected PGC migration. We conclude that Opiwi is required not only for determining the PGC number but also for controlling PGC migration. Our results demonstrate that piwi plays a generally conserved role in germ cell development from Drosophila to vertebrate and a specific role in PGC migration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…This is consistent with the maternal inheritance of Opiwi in this organism. Maternal inheritance of piwi has also been documented in zebrafish [20] and Xenopus [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medaka piwi is Essential for Primordial Germ Cell Migration

Li¹,

Hóng²,

Gui

et al. 2012

CMM

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“…Expression of Piwi proteins in Drosophila is seen both in the germline as well as in somatic cells (Cox et al 1998;Nishida et al 2007), while in vertebrates, significant expression has only been documented in the germline (Kuramochi-Miyagawa et al 2001;Qiao et al 2002;Tan et al 2002;Lau et al 2006;Carmell et al 2007;Houwing et al 2007;Sugimoto et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two Piwi proteins, Xiwi and Xili, are expressed in the Xenopus female germline

Wilczynska

Minshall²,

Armisen³

et al. 2009

RNA

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The Argonaute superfamily is a large family of RNA-binding proteins involved in gene regulation mediated by small noncoding RNA and characterized by the presence of PAZ and PIWI domains. The family consists of two branches, the Ago and the Piwi clade. Piwi proteins bind to 21-30-nucleotide-long Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which map primarily to transposons and repeated sequence elements. Piwi/piRNAs are important regulators of gametogenesis and have been proposed to play roles in transposon silencing, DNA methylation, transcriptional silencing, and/or post-transcriptional control of translation and RNA stability. Most reports to date have concentrated on the Piwi family members in the male germline. We have identified four Piwi proteins in Xenopus and demonstrate that two, namely, Xiwi1b and Xili, are expressed in the oocyte and early embryo. Xiwi1 and Xili are predominantly found in small, separate complexes, and we do not detect significant interaction of Piwi proteins with the cap-binding complex. Putative nuclear localization and export signals were identified in Xiwi1 and Xili, supporting our observation that Xiwi1, but not Xili, is a nucleo-cytoplasmic protein. Furthermore, by immunoprecipitation of small RNAs, we establish Xiwi1 as a bona fide Piwi protein. These results suggest that the Piwi/piRNA pathway is active in translationally repressed oocytes. This is a significant finding as the Xenopus model provides an excellent tool to study post-transcriptional mechanisms.

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“…It encodes a highly basic nuclear protein well conserved in evolution. Piwi homologs have also been found in mouse (Miwi) and human (Hiwi), sea urchin (Seawi) and zebrafish (Ziwi) (Cox et al, 1998;Cikaluk et al, 1999;Qiao et al, 2002;Tan et al, 2002). The total number of Piwi-like genes is four in human, five in flies and at least 24 members in C.elegans (Schwarz and Zamore, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%