Piwi Like Protein 1 (PIWIL1)

PIWIL1 encodes a member of the PIWI subfamily of Argonaute proteins, evolutionarily conserved proteins containing both PAZ and Piwi motifs that play important roles in stem cell self-renewal, RNA silencing, and translational regulation in diverse organisms. The encoded protein may play a role as an intrinsic regulator of the self-renewal capacity of germline and hematopoietic stem cells.

Miwi associated with both piRNAs and mRNAs in cytosolic ribonucleoprotein and polysome fractions of mouse testicular extract. As polysomes increased in early spermiogenesis, Miwi levels increased in polysome fractions. Moreover, Miwi associated with the mRNA cap-binding complex.