Jena.The germline, the cells that eventually make sperm and eggs, represents the immortal lineage that passes on our genetic information through the generations. Protecting the integrity of the germline genome is paramount to the continuity of life. In mammals, the germline undergoes a phase of genome-wide erasure of DNA methylation that releases transposons from epigenetic repression. This provides an existential challenge to the germline. Transposons threaten genome integrity through mutagenic transposition events, deregulation of gene activity and DNA damage. Failure to silence transposons leads to infertility in males. To defend the germline genome against transposon activity, PIWI proteins bound to PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), neutralise transposon transcripts. The nuclear PIWI protein MIWI2 then guides repressive DNA methylation of transposon loci. Yet how this is achieved remains unknown.
Dr. Ansgar Zoch will present the recent discovery of factors that link the piRNA pathway to the DNA methylation machinery. His team then identified mutations in human genes that were associated with male infertility, demonstrating functional conservation of piRNA-guided transposon repression in humans.
More information
| Title of Talk: | Protecting the immortal lineage – RNA-guided transposon defence in the germline |
| When: | Thursday, August 8, 2024, 3 pm |
| Where: | Seminar room “Nucleus”, main building (FLI 1), Beutenbergstraße 11, Jena |
| Host: | Helen Morrison |
The colloquium will be a hybrid event. Details for accessing the session will be provided before the colloquium takes place. For external guests: Please contact Ivonne.Roeppnack-Jahnke@leibniz-fli.de for details.
