PNLDC1 mediated piRNA trimming

Germ cell specific small RNA, named PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) is essential for mouse spermatogenesis. piRNA is generated by sequential cleavage from single stranded RNA to pre-piRNA, then piRNA. pre-piRNA is slightly longer and it is trimmed by trimmer proteins to be matured piRNA. Recently, several proteins were reported to act as Trimmer, one of them is PNLDC1 in mouse. Here, we reported that mouse PNLDC1 also act as Trimmer and PNLDC1-mediated piRNA trimming is essential for proper spermatogenesis at meitic and post-meiotic phases.