EMBO/sd-character-level-ner huggingface dataset:
Clinical and molecular studies on PITRM1R183Q mutant patients.Figure 1A: family tree. Affected subjects are represented by filled shapes. The index case is II-2 (arrow). B: brain MRI images of II-1 (FLAIR). A: sagittal interemispheric sequence showing profound cerebellar atrophy (arrow); B: transverse sequence showing involvement of the dentate nuclei of cerebellum; C: coronal sequence revealing cortical atrophy, a wide third ventricle, and high signal changes in the thalami, particularly on the left (arrow), D: the thalamic lesion is indicated by an arrow. C: histochemical staining of skeletal muscle from II-2. Combined COX/SDH staining shows scattered COX negative (blue) fibres (arrows). The black bar corresponds to 100 µm. D: respiratory chain complex activities in skeletal muscle. Specific activities (nmol min-1 mg-1) of complex I, II and IV are reduced in II-2 (red) compared to the controls mean (blue); CS activity is also low (<50% of controls) suggesting a reduction of mitochondrial mass (see main text for further details). Each activity was measured in triplicate. E: Western blot analysis of PITRM1 in primary fibroblasts (left) and skeletal muscle (right) of controls (CTR) and subject II-2. Densitometric quantification using the Genetools software is shown below the blots. In blue is PITRM1WT and in red PITRM1R183Q. F: proteolytic activity on two fluorescent oligopeptides (AnaSpec), reported at the bottom of each histogram, by 6-His tagged PITRM1WT and PITRM1R183Q proteins expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified by Ni-agarose chromatography. Values are expressed as arbitrary units per sec per µg of protein (a.u. s-1µg-1). Experiments were performed in duplicate. G: degradation rate of Aβ1-42 by purified 6-His tagged PITRM1WT and PITRM1R183Q proteins. Quantification of these experiments is displayed below the blots. Experiments were performed in duplicate.
Figure 3(A) Immunoblots for mitochondrial ferritin (FTMT) with HSP60 as the loading control using the mitochondrial fraction of Huh7 cells and HepG2 cells (upper panels) and the quantification of mitophagy using mt-mKeima transfection and FACS analysis (n=4, biological replicates) (lower panels) before and after DFP (1.0 mM) treatment with or without FTMT knockdown by siRNA. The central horizontal bar and the error bards indicate mean ± SD. The Tukey's honestly significant test was used for statistical analysis. NC: negative control siRNA, **: P<0.01. (B) Immunofluorescence staining for LC3 (red), the mitochondrial marker Tom20 (green) and FTMT (blue) in Huh7 cells before and after DFP (1.0 mM) treatment with or without FTMT knockdown by siRNA. FTMT colocalize with LC3 at the mitochondria (white puncta indicated by arrows). Boxed areas are enlarged below. Scale bar: 5 μm (C) Immunoblots for mitochondrial ferritin (FTMT) following FTMT knockdown in the absence or presence of DFP using the mitochondrial fraction of Huh7 cells and those transfected with FTMT siRNA-resistant FTMT (left panel). HSP60 as the loading control. Those cells were subjected to the quantification of mitophagy using mt-mKeima transfection and FACS analysis before and after DFP (1.0 mM) treatment (n=5, biological replicates) (right panel). The central horizontal bar and the error bards indicate mean ± SD. The Tukey's honestly significant test was used for statistical analysis. ***: P<0.001. (D) Super resolution images of immunofluorescence staining for LC3 (red), FTMT (green) and Tom20 (blue) in FTMT knockdown-Huh7 cells transfected with FTMT-GFP or FTMT siRNA-resistant FTMT-GFP before and after DFP (1.0 mM) treatment. White arrows indicate colocalization of LC3, FTMT, and Tom20.
Figure 1A Family pedigrees of Subjects 1, 2 and 3 show segregation of identified homozygous NDUFC2 variants within each family. B Sequencing chromatograms depicting the identified 22 nucleotide deletion (c.346_*7del) identified in Subject 1 (S1), the heterozygous state of the deletion in the father, and the wild-type NDUFC2 sequence in Control DNA. C Sequencing chromatograms depicting the identified missense variant (c.173A>T; p.(His58Leu)) in Subject 3 (S3) and the wild-type NDUFC2 sequence in Control DNA. D Clustal Omega sequence alignment shows evolutionary conservation of the p.His58 residue (highlighted) along with its neighbouring residues (human NDUFC2: NP_004540.1).
Figure 5Gene set enrichment plots (GSEA) of LV using public annotations showing the enrichment of selected gene signatures involved in different pathways in late Telogen (P69, Tl) compared with mid Telogen (P55, Tm). NES: normalized enrichment score. The false discovery rate (FDR; q-value) is indicated. Table of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), in LV during late Telogen compared to mid Telogen, relative to biological processes, analyzed using the Enrichr platform (Chen et al., 2013; Kuleshov et al., 2016). Upregulated (red), downregulated (blue). Data shown represent the fold change of the genes. Heat map diagram of DEGs in LV during late Telogen compared to mid Telogen, relative to biological processes, analyzed using the Enrichr platform (Chen et al., 2013; Kuleshov et al., 2016). Data shown represent the log2 (FPKM+1). Histograms of RNA ISH analyses by RNAscope to quantify the level of expression of ITGA5 (D), DCN (E), PKD1 (F) and PLXND1 (G), assessed by the number of mRNA spots present in LYVE1+ cells in the vicinity of HF in P55 and P70 mouse back skin. n= average of 30 LYVE1+ cells / sample, n= 3 mice. Histograms represent the mean fluorescence intensity for Jup (H) and Emilin1 (I) in LYVE1+ cells in the vicinity of HF in P55 and P70 mouse back skin. n= 3 - 4 skin samples per mouse, n= 3 - 4 mice.
Unprocessed Tf2 transcripts accumulate in pre‐mRNA splicing mutantsNorthern blot analysis of Tf2 retrotransposons, U6 snRNA, and act1+ mRNA (loading control) in wt, cay1∆, and prp1‐1 cells.Figure 8Northern blot analysis of Tf2 retrotransposons, U6 snRNA, and act1+ mRNA (loading control) in wt, cay1Δ, and prp1‐1 cells. prp1‐1 cells were grown at 36°C for 4 h before harvesting. Black arrowhead indicates unprocessed Tf2 transcripts. The asterisk indicates unspliced U6. Numbers at the bottom are the ratios between Tf2 and act1+ signals (Tf2/Act1) and expressed as fold increase over wt. Northern blot analysis as in (A) in mpn1+ and mpn1∆ strains carrying a stably integrated extra copy of the snu6+ gene or empty vector control plasmids (ev).
a) The Bcl-2 binding domain of Beclin1 is sufficient to bind vBcl-2.figf2(a) The Bcl-2 binding domain of Beclin1 is sufficient to bind vBcl-2. At 48 h posttransfection with wild-type and mutant Beclin1-V5, together with HA-vBcl-2, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-V5 followed by immunoblotting with anti-HA. (b) The loss of Beclin1 interaction of vBcl-2AAA mutant. At 48 h posttransfection with wild-type HA-vBcl-2 or vBcl-2AAA mutant, together with Beclin1-V5, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-V5, followed by immunoblotting with anti-HA. (c) vBcl-2 interaction with wild-type UVRAG in the presence of Beclin1. At 48 h posttransfection with Flag-UVRAG together with Beclin1-V5 and HA-vBcl-2 or vBcl-2AAA mutant, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-HA followed by immunoblotting with anti-Flag. (d) vBcl-2 interaction with PI(3) KC3 in the presence of Beclin1. At 48 h posttransfection with HA-vBcl-2 together with Flag-PI(3) KC3 and Beclin1-V5, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunprecipitation with anti-HA followed by immunoblotting with anti-Flag. (e) PI(3) KC3 N-terminal C2 domain binds Beclin1. At 48 h posttransfection with Beclin1-V5 together with full-length or fragments of Flag-PI(3) KC3, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-Flag followed by immunoblotting with anti-V5. CAT, catalytic domain. (f) Beclin1CCD and Beclin1ECD are sufficient for binding PI(3) KC3. At 48 h posttransfection with Flag-PI(3) KC3 together with full-length or fragments of Beclin1-V5, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-V5 followed by immunoblotting with anti-Flag. CT, C terminus (aa 337-448). (g) PI(3) KC3 interaction with UVRAG in the presence of Beclin1. At 48 h posttransfection with Flag-UVRAGΔCCD or UVRAGCCD together with HA- PI(3) KC3 and Beclin1-V5, WCLs of 293T cells were used for immunoprecipitation with anti-Flag followed by immunoblotting with anti-HA. (h) Schematic representation of the Beclin1-Bcl-2-UVRAG-PI(3) KC3 multiprotein complex. BH, Bcl-2 homologue; BH3B, BH3 binding motif. The raw data for a−d, f and g are presented in the Supplementary Information, Fig. S5.
Figure 4Western blot analysis of p38 MAPK phosphorylation in HeLa cells treated with arsenite, TNF-α, H2O2 or anisomycin; β-actin was used as loading control Representative image of intracellular Shigella in HeLa cells pre-treated with arsenite in the absence or presence of the p38 inhibitor SB203580, and corresponding controls cfu quantificatio of intracellular Shigella in HeLa cells pre-treated with arsenite in the absence or presence of the p38 inhibitor SB203580, and corresponding controls Cfu quantification of intracellular Shigella in HeLa cells transfected with p38 siRNA or control siRNA and pre-treated or not with arsenite prior to infection cfu quantificatio of intracellular Shigella in HeLa cells pre-treated wit anysomycin in the absence or presence of the p38 inhibitor SB203580, and corresponding controls Cfu quantification of intracellular Shigella in HeLa cells transfected with p38 siRNA or control siRNA and pre-treated or not wit anisomycin prior to infection 3D reconstruction of representative images of ceramide staining in HeLa cells treated with arsenite ), in the presence or absence of SB203580, and corresponding controls. Ceramide and Hoechst staining were surface converted by voxel distance 3D reconstruction of representative images of ceramide staining in HeLa cells treated wit anisomyci ), in the presence or absence of SB203580, and corresponding controls. Ceramide and Hoechst staining were surface converted by voxel distance
GBP1 targets Toxoplasma vacuoles in human macrophages (A-B) Representative images (A) and quantification (B) from IFNγ-primed THP-1 ∆GBP1 stably reconstituted with Tet-mCH-GBP1, mCH-GBP1K51A, mCH-GBP1C589A or mCH-GBP1∆589-592 variants or monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) stained for GBP1.Figure 4Representative images (A) and quantification (B) from IFNγ-primed THP-1 ∆GBP1 stably reconstituted with Tet-mCH-GBP1, mCH-GBP1K51A, mCH-GBP1C589A or mCH-GBP1∆589-592 variants or monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) stained for GBP1. Cells were infected with type I or type II Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) for 2 h. Blue, Nuclei; Grey, Tg; Red, mCH-GBP1 or Magenta, GBP1. Scale bar, 5 μm. Graph in (B) shows mean percentage of Tg vacuoles targeted by GBP1 from n = 4 experiments.
Figure 4A MA plot of DESeq differential expression analysis with the 1% false discovery rate (FDR) hits in red (5/402; and with >2-fold change 1/65, up-/down-regulated respectively). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the 402 down-regulated genes revealed gene classes related to memory formation and synaptic function. C Proportion of transcripts with extended 3´UTRs (at least 2 kb beyond the canonical polyadenylation site) among the top 100 Gadd45α hits. D UCSC browser view of reads-per-million-normalised RNA-seq coverage for Grin2a in Gadd45a-WT (black) and Gadd45a-KO (blue) representative samples. Gene structure of Grin2a (colored in purple), and the direction of transcription (red arrow). Upper pannel covers the entire transcript while lower panel is an enlargement of exons 4-8. E Detailed view of the extended 3´UTR of Grin2a showing a significant 5´<3´ gradient in RNA-seq coverage. Note that the normalised read coverage is similar between genotypes at the actual 3´UTR end but differs significantly upstream including the annotated exons. For subsequent experiments, position of the designed primers covering proximal and distal parts of the 3´UTR are indicated below. F, G Validation of Gadd45α-regulated levels of Grin2a mRNA by qPCR with primers covering exons 3-4. Grin2a mRNA levels were analyzed in the hippocampus of mice under control conditions (white bars; Gadd45a-WT=7 and Gadd45a-KO=7) and 1 hour after PA (Gadd45a-WT=5, black bars; Gadd45a-KO=6, blue bars). Random primed cDNA levels (F), were very similar in all the experimental groups. Oligo(dT)-primed cDNA (G) revealed a significant increase of Grin2a 1h after PA, which was only observed in Gadd45a-WT mice. Values shown are mean ± SEM; 2-Way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test: ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001. H, I mRNA levels of proximal vs. distal parts of the 3´UTR analyzed in the same set of oligo(dT)-primed cDNA. (H) Significant increase in Grin2a mRNA levels was found for the proximal part only in Gadd45a-WT. (I) Distal parts of the 3´UTR remained unchanged (n=6 for all groups). Values shown are mean ± SEM; 2-Way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test: * = p<0.05.
Figure 3(A) Meta-analysis of footprint size of all 17 inhibitory pairs identified aligning the first codon of the pair in the ribosomal P site. (B) Metacodon analysis of 21 nt RPFs centered at the first codon of each inhibitory pair (red) compared to their corresponding optimal pair (green). P-values were determined by Student's t-test between each inhibitory and the corresponding optimal pair (** p < 0.01, n=2). (C) Comparison of 21 nt RPFs aligned at all 17 inhibitory codons from libraries made with CHX/ANS (blue) and CHX/TIG (black) (left) to their corresponding optimal pairs with the same antibiotic combination (right). No significant difference found (n.s.: p=0.9961, n=2) between CHX-TIG and CHX-ANS.
Binding of Dln1 to high-mannose glycans.Figure 3A&amp;amp;B. ELISA of Dln1 towards glycosylated gp120 or yeast mannan. The curve represents the average of triplicate detections, using BSA as the control. Points are averages (±standard error of the mean) of triplicate determinations. C. Binding of FITC-labeled Dln1 and D135A mutant to saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The scale bar represents 5 μm. D. Immunoblot analysis of Dln1 and D135A mutant after incubating with S. cerevisiae cells. The seeing bands represent the cell-bound protein after extensive washing the yeast cells. The monomer and oligomer bands are highlighted by the black arrow.
a) Confocal time-lapse images of an MCF10A cell-in-cell structure expressing GFP–LC3 and H2B–mCherry.figf1(a) Confocal time-lapse images of an MCF10A cell-in-cell structure expressing GFP-LC3 and H2B-mCherry. The arrow marks recruitment of LC3 to the entotic vacuole (see Supplementary Movie S1). Scale bar, 15 μm. (b) Images of MCF10A cells expressing GFP-LC3G120A and mCherry-LC3; note no recruitment of GFP-LC3G120A to the entotic vacuole. Scale bar, 15 μm. (c) LC3 is recruited from the host-cell cytosol onto the entotic vacuole membrane. Data points are the mean fluorescence intensity of GFP-LC3 on vacuoles versus cytoplasm for two independent cell-in-cell structures (see Supplementary Movie S2). (d) Correlative video-light-electron microscopy of an MCF10A GFP-LC3 cell-in-cell structure. Cells were imaged by time-lapse microscopy, followed by fixation after LC3 recruitment (see Supplementary Movie S3). Top left, post-fixation images of phase-contrast and GFP-fluorescence signals were taken demonstrating LC3 recruitment. Bottom left and right, electron microscopy (EM) of the same cell shows the entotic vacuole is a single membrane (arrow in right image, which is a higher magnification of the area outlined in the bottom left image) (e) Percentage of MCF10A cell-in-cell structures, with and without autophagy inhibition, that show LC3 recruitment associated with death of the internalized cell. Data represent mean±s.e.m. from at least three independent experiments; n, total number of death events; ***P0.0001. (f,g) Time-lapse images of MCF10A cell-in-cell structures expressing either 2×FYVE-mCherry (red) and GFP-LC3 (green; f) or Lamp1-GFP (green) and mCherry-LC3 (red; g). The arrows indicate recruitment to the entotic vacuole (see Supplementary Movies S4 and S5). Times are indicated as h:min:s (a,f) or min (g). Scale bars, 5 μm. (h) Representative images of cell-in-cell structures in which only host cells express Cathepsin-B-mCherry. Left, a live inner cell with no Cathepsin B in the vacuole (arrow); middle, a live internalized cell with Cathepsin B from the host inside of the vacuole (arrowhead); right, a dead internalized cell with Cathepsin B from the host throughout the corpse (asterisk). Scale bar, 15 μm. (i) Five representative timings of GFP-LC3 recruitment to entotic vacuoles (green bar) and death of internalized cells (cross) from time-lapse microscopy. (j) Initiation and duration of 2×FYVE domain (red bar, n=11), LC3 (green bar, n=20) and Lamp1 (orange bar, n=7) recruitment to entotic vacuoles, determined using double-expressing cells shown in f,g. Error bars represent s.d.
Figure 1Percent body weight of male Prdx4 WT and KO mice over the 72 h course of LPS (4.5 mg/kg BW) or PBS injection (i.p.). Each circle represents a mean of n=7 mice, vertical lines indicate SEM Cytokine concentration in Prdx4 WT and KO mice in response to LPS injection. (B) Cxcl1 levels in serum (left) or peritoneal lavage (right) at indicated time points after LPS or PBS injection. (C) TNF-α levels in serum (left) or peritoneal lavage (right) at indicated time points after LPS or PBS injection. (D) IL-1β levels in serum (left) or peritoneal lavage (right) at indicated time points after LPS or PBS injection. Each dot (B-D) represents an individual mouse. Horizontal lines indicate mean.
Figure 4(a) Stable 293T cells in the presence of pro-caspase-1, pro-IL-1β and ASC overexpression were transfected with control vector or BRLF1 with control vector, IFI16, NLRP3, RIG-I or AIM2 for 36 h. After the cells were infected with HSV-1 (MOI=1) for 12 h, the cells were collected, and the cell lysates were analyzed by western blotting to determine the levels of pro-caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, pro-IL-1β and mature IL-1β as indicated. (b) Scramble (sc) or shRNAs against RIG-I and empty control vector (ctr), BRLF1- or BRLF1 L578A-expressing plasmids were co-transfected into EBV-ΔBRLF1-harboring HNE1 cells. Thirty-six hours after the transfection, cell pellets were collected, after which the cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β was measured as indicated. (c) Analysis of ASC oligomerization. ASC-expressing plasmid was transfected into 293T cells or HNE1 cells with empty vector or GFP-BRLF1 in the presence of AIM2- or RIG-I-expressing plasmid. Twelve hours after HSV-1 infection (MOI=1) in 293T cells, or 48 h after EBV-ΔBRLF1 infection (MOI=1000) in HNE1 cells, the cell pellets were collected, and cell lysates were treated with DSS to induce chemical cross-linking and analyzed by western blotting for ASC oligomerization. (d) EBV-ΔBRLF1-harboring HNE1 cells were transfected with control vector, BRLF1 or BRLF1 L578A in the absence or presence of BZLF1 for 48 h. The total RNAs were extracted and subjected to real-time PCR analysis. (e) A549 cells were transfected with control vector, BRLF1 or BRLF1 L578A for 36 h. After the cells were infected with HSV-1 (MOI=1) for 12 h, the total RNAs were extracted and subjected to real-time PCR analysis.
Attenuation of Abca1 transcription by NCOA5RT–qPCR of Abca1 expression following 1 μM T0901317 treatment in primary BMMs infected with a non‐silencing or Ncoa5‐specific shRNA.Figure 4RT-qPCR of Abca1 expression following 1 μM T0901317 treatment in primary BMMs infected with a non‐silencing or Ncoa5‐specific shRNA. Fold changes are shown relative to shControl 0 h. Note the elevated Abca1 expression at 24-30 h following loss of NCOA5. Error bars represent ± SEM for n = 4-6 (**P = 0.0007 at 24 h and **P = 0.004 at 30 h, *P = 0.02). Quantification of ABCA1 immunoblots from primary BMMs infected as in (A). Representative immunoblot is shown in Supplementary Fig S7E. LXR ligand stimulation with 1 μM T0901317 or vehicle control was performed for 8 h or 30 h. Error bars represent ± SEM for n = 2 (**P = 0.007).
Implication of phagocytosis of opsonized E.Figure 5(A) Effect of 3‐MA on neutrophil phagocytic capacity of opsonized E. coli as observed by flow cytometry. Percentage of phagocytosing neutrophils after 3‐MA pretreatment (III) compared with cells incubated with opsonized bacteria (II). Data are representative of six independent experiments and are presented as mean±SD, (I: control unstimulated group), (IV) MFI representation (bar 1: control: 1±1.9, bar 2: E. coli: 387.7±33.3, bar 3: E. coli+3‐MA: 25.13±18, Wilcoxon matched‐pairs test, *p<0.05; bar 2 compared with bar 1 and bar 3 compared to bar 2). (B) (I) Presence of acidified structures in E. coli‐phagocytosing neutrophils and medium‐treated control cells. (II) Percentage of PMN with acidified vacuoles as detected by MDC staining. E. coli‐phagocytosing cells (bar 2: 79.33±7.15%) compared with control conditions (bar 1: 14.17±4.79%). Data are representative of six independent experiments and presented as mean±SD; Wilcoxon matched‐pairs test, *p<0.05. ( (C) LC3B conversion analysis in E. coli‐phagocytosing neutrophils (lane II), control neutrophils (lane I) and E. coli‐phagocytosing neutrophils after 3‐MA pretreatment (lane III). One representative out of six independent experiments is shown. (D) Effect of 3‐MA administration to E. coli‐phagocytosing neutrophils 15 min after the initiation of phagocytosis (lane III) as detected by LC3B conversion analysis. Lane II represents E. coli‐phagocytosing neutrophils and lane I control neutrophils. One representative out of four independent experiments is shown. (E) (I) Percentage of neutrophils with LC3B punctuated structures. E. coli (bar 1: 84±2.2%) compared with E. coli+3‐MA (bar 2: 4±1.95%). Data are representative of six independent experiments and presented as mean±SD. Wilcoxon matched‐pairs test, *p<0.05. (II) Formation of LC3B puncta in phagocytosing neutrophils and (III) in cells treated with 3‐MA before incubation with opsonized E. coli, as observed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy (1. LC3B: red; 2. FITC conjugated E. coli: green; 3. DAPI: blue; and 4. merge). Solid line arrows point the colocalization of LC3B puncta with E. coli bacteria. Dashed line arrows point LC3B aggregates that are not colocalized with E. coli.
The model of dynamics of Armi and Piwi in OSCs.Figure 7Armi localizes to Yb bodies Piwi-independently, but Piwi localization to Yb bodies depends on Armi. At Yb bodies, Piwi is loaded with piRNA precursor (through their 5′ ends) to become pre-piRISC. Armi joins the complex by binding the downstream region in the precursor and also Piwi. The Armi−Piwi−pre-piRISC complex then leaves Yb bodies to head to mitochondria for Zuc cleavage. The Armi−Piwi−pre-piRISC complex is docked onto mitochondria through the Gasz−Daed complex, under which Zuc cleaves the precursor and releases Piwi−piRISC to the cytosol while Armi returns to Yb bodies for another round of reaction (not shown). Piwi−piRISC is translocated to the nucleus for transposon repression. Nascent Piwi may bind 5′ end of piRNA precursor produced by Zuc cleavage while the RNA is still bound with Armi. Another Zuc cleavage gives rise to phased piRNAs. The Piwi mutant MIDmt does not bind piRNA precursor at Yb bodies, abrogating the whole processing. Another Piwi mutant PAZmt does bind piRNA precursor at Yb bodies, but after Zuc reaction, the 3′ end of piRNA is not bound by the PAZ domain because of the mutation, and so functional piRISC is not sufficiently produced in the cells. The Armi mutant N756A fails to bind piRNA precursor pre-bound with Piwi at Yb bodies, leading to the failure of Piwi−pre-piRISC departure from Yb bodies. Another Armi mutant ∆N34 is able to bind Piwi−pre-piRISC at Yb bodies but fails to leave the bodies for an unknown reason. The whole processing of Piwi−piRISC formation is well regulated by the interdependence between Armi and Piwi and also the RNA-binding activity of the two proteins. Functions of SoYb, Vret, Shu, and Mino (not shown) in the pathway remain to be determined.