PUCH: eine neuartige Endoribonuklease in der piRNA-Biogenese

Transposons are like parasites within DNA, spreading across genomes. Special proteins called PIWI proteins keep these elements under control with the help of small RNA molecules called piRNAs. While piRNAs were already discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans in the year 2008, it remained elusive how their 5’ end is processed. We have now identified the missing endoribonuclease PUCH, which initiates the piRNA biogenesis in C. elegans.