MIWI catalysis is required for piRNA amplification-independent LINE1 transposon silencing [microarray]. Mus musculus

Here we show that MIWI is a small RNA-guided ribonuclease (Slicer) that requires extensive complementarity for target cleavage in vitro. Disruption of its catalytic activity in mice by a single point mutation results in male infertility and displays increased accumulation of LINE1 transposon transcripts. Overall design: Round spermatids were purified from adult mouse testes of indicated Miwi genotypes. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to microarray analysis for gene expression profiling.