Identification and functional analysis of MIWI2 binding partner in embryonic male germ cells.. Mus musculus

Small RNAs have critical roles for gene regulations and these abnormalities often lead to developmental arrest and/or diseases. Among small RNAs, we have focused on germ cell specific small RNA, named piRNA (PIWI-interacting RNA). piRNA functions as "genomic guardian" by repressing retrotransposon, and are essential for germ cell developments. Mouse piRNA binding protein, MILI (Mouse PIWI like) and MIWI2 (Mouse PIWI2) have critical roles for piRNA biogenesis and its function, respectively. We have shown that majority of piRNA are derived from retrotransposons and they contributed for retrotransposon silencing by DNA methylation. In this project, we newly identified MORC3 as MIWI2 binding partner in embryonic germ cells and analyzed the role of MORC3 in piRNA dependent manner.