RNA Pathway Helps Keep Flies Alive

An anti-transposon pathway previously thought to function only in reproductive tissue also helps reduce harmful mutations in body cells of fruit flies.

| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

BROWN UNIVERSITY, BRIAN JONES

An RNA pathway responsible for cutting down on mobile, potentially deleterious stretches of DNA is active in non-reproductive tissues in fruit flies, according to a study published in Nature Communications on December 21. Researchers from Brown University report that the piRNA pathway, once thought to function only in reproductive tisue, also suppresses transposable elements (or transposons) in the fat body tissue of fruit flies, likely playing an important role in keeping the flies healthy.

Transposons are sections of DNA capable of moving from one region of the genome to another, sometimes causing harmful mutations. Previous studies demonstrated that piRNA patrols the genome in fruit fly reproductive tissue to ensure TEs are not handed down to offspring. The Brown University team showed that not only is ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Keywords

Meet the Author

  • Ben Andrew Henry

    This person does not yet have a bio.
Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

sartorius logo
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo

Products

Photo of a researcher overseeing large scale production processes in a laboratory.

Scaling Lentiviral Vector Manufacturing for Optimal Productivity

Thermo Fisher Logo
Discover a serum-free way to produce dendritic cells and macrophages for cell therapy applications.

Optimizing In Vitro Production of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

Thermo Fisher Logo
Collage-style urban graphic of wastewater surveillance and treatment

Putting Pathogens to the Test with Wastewater Surveillance

An illustration of an mRNA molecule in front of a multicolored background.

Generating High-Quality mRNA for In Vivo Delivery with Lipid Nanoparticles

Thermo Fisher Logo