piRNAs have been implicated in transposon silencing. Tudor domain–containing protein-1 (Tdrd1) is now shown to interact with the mouse Piwi ortholog Mili and be part of a complex that contains Mili-associated piRNAs. Interaction occurs through the N terminus of Mili, which is dimethylated, a modification that promotes Tdrd1 interaction. The Tdrd1 mutant shares phenotypes with the Mili mutant but shows a strong effect on the nature of the small RNA pool associated with Mili.
- Michael Reuter
- Shinichiro Chuma
- Ramesh S Pillai
