PIWIL3

PIWIL3 is a member of the PIWI subfamily of Argonaute family proteins. This subfamily of proteins contains a PAZ domain, found in proteins involved in RNA-mediated gene silencing, and a C-terminal Piwi domain. The encoded protein is thought to function in maintenance of germline cells.

Full Name

Piwi Like RNA-mediated Gene Silencing 3

Function

May play a role during spermatogenesis by repressing transposable elements and preventing their mobilization, which is essential for the germline integrity. 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. Besides their function in transposable elements repression, piRNAs are probably involved in other processes during meiosis such as translation regulation (By similarity).

Biological Process

Cell differentiationIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Gene silencing by RNAManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Meiotic cell cycleIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Regulation of translationIEA:UniProtKB-KW
SpermatogenesisIEA:UniProtKB-KW

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm
Probable component of the meiotic nuage, also named P granule, a germ-cell-specific organelle required to repress transposon activity during meiosis.