Function
Plays a central role during gametogenesis by repressing transposable elements and preventing their mobilization, which is essential for the germline integrity (PubMed:14516689, PubMed:17418787, PubMed:18833190). 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 governs the methylation and subsequent repression of transposons (PubMed:14516689, PubMed:17418787, PubMed:18833190). Directly binds methylated 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 (PubMed:14516689, PubMed:17418787, PubMed:18833190). Has a strong preference for piRNAs with a uridine nucleotide at their 5'-end (g1U preference, also named 1U-bias) and binds piRNAs in an opposite direction compared to piwil2/zili (PubMed:14516689, PubMed:17418787, PubMed:18833190). Participates in a piRNA amplification loop with piwil2/zili (PubMed:14516689, PubMed:17418787, PubMed:18833190). Not involved in the piRNA amplification loop, also named ping-pong amplification cycle. Acts as an endoribonuclease that cleaves transposon messenger RNAs (By similarity).
Sequence
MTGRARARSRGRGRGQEPAAPGAQPPVSQEAAKPVVSTPSEGQLVGRGRQKPAPGAMSEEAMLQISAGFQQVKIGERGGRRRDFHDSGVHTRQLMEHVKESKTGVSGTAIELRANFMRLLSRPMWALYQYHVDYKPPMESRRLRSALLFQHEETLGKAHTFDGAILFLPNKLRNAETVLCSETRNGEKVEITVTLTNELPPSSPVCLQFYNILFRRILRILNMQQIGRHYYNPDDPFNIPQHRLTIWPGFMTTILQYESSIMLCSDVSHKVLRSETVLDFMYSLRQQCGDQRFPEACTKELVGLIILTKYNNKTYRIDDIAWDHTPNNTFKKGDTEISFKNYFKSQYGLDITDGNQVLLVSHVKRLGPSGRPPPGPAMLVPEFCYLTGLTDKMRADFNIMKDLASHTRLSPEQREGRINRLISNINRNGDVQNELTTWGLSFENKLLSLNGRVLPSERIIQGGRAFEYNPWTADWSKEMRGLPLISCMSLDNWLMFYTRRNADVAQSLLQTLNKVSGPMGIRMQRAVMIEYEDRQESLLRALQQNVARETQMVVVILPTNRKDKYDCVKKYLCVDCPTPSQCVVSRTISKPQALMTVATKIALQMNCKMGGELWSVEIPLRQLMIVGIDCYHDTAAGKRSIGAMVASLNQGMSRWFSKCVLQNRGQEIIDALKGSLQGALKAYLKYNNSLPSRIIVYRDGVGDGMLQSVVDYEVPQIMQSIKTMGQDYEPKLSVVVVKKRISSRFFARIDGKIANPPPGTVIDTEVTRPEWYDFFIVSQAVRFGCVAPTHYNVVFDNSGLKPDHMQRLTYKLCHMYYNWQGIVRVPAPCQYAHKLAFLVGQSIHKEPNMNLDDFLYYL