The PIWI protein MIWI2 and its associated PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) instruct DNA methylation of young active transposable elements (TEs) in the male germline. 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. SOURCE: Yuka Kabayama (yuka.kabayama@ed.ac.uk) - O'Carroll group University of Edinburgh

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE150350: TEX15 is an essential executor of MIWI2-directed transposon DNA methylation and silencing.