piRNAjärjestelmät
piRNAjärjestelmät, or piRNA systems, are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules and associated proteins that play a crucial role in genome defense, particularly in the germline. These piRNAs, typically 24-31 nucleotides in length, are transcribed from specific genomic loci called piRNA clusters. They bind to a set of proteins known as PIWI (P-element induced wimpy testis) proteins, forming a ribonucleoprotein complex.
The primary function of piRNA systems is to silence transposable elements, also known as jumping genes. Transposable
Beyond transposon silencing, piRNA systems are also involved in regulating gene expression and maintaining the integrity