User:Mkibanov

The piNG-body
The piNG-body (piRNA Nuage Giant body) is a non–membrane, presumably nuage-derivative organelle, found in Drosophila male germ cells. It has a lobular structure, with one central lobule usually surrounded by three or four peripheral lobules, and contains nuage proteins responsible for piRNA biogenesis and silencing of selfish genetic elements in Drosophila germinal tissues: Vasa, Aub, Ago3, Tud, Bel, Squ and Cuff, , , , , , ,. These proteins are compartmentalized inside the piNG-body. Vasa, Aub, Tud, Bell, Squ and Cuff form the peripheral lobules, while Ago3 occupies the central one. The piNG-bodies appear at the primary spermatocyte stage of spermatogenesis during a period of active transcription, usually one per cell, and disassemble after that. Destruction of the piNG-body leads to derepression of selfish Stellate repeats known to be silenced via piRNA pathway, , ,.