PiRNAs Are Regulators of Metabolic Reprogramming in Stem Cells

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Sep 27

PMID 39333531

Authors

Patricia Rojas-Rios

Aymeric Chartier

Camille Enjolras

Julie Cremaschi

Celine Garret

Adel Boughlita

Anne Ramat

Martine Simonelig

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Stem cells preferentially use glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation and this metabolic rewiring plays an instructive role in their fate; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and PIWI proteins have essential functions in a range of adult stem cells across species. Here, we show that piRNAs and the PIWI protein Aubergine (Aub) are instrumental in activating glycolysis in Drosophila female germline stem cells (GSCs). Higher glycolysis is required for GSC self-renewal and aub loss-of-function induces a metabolic switch in GSCs leading to their differentiation. Aub directly binds glycolytic mRNAs and Enolase mRNA regulation by Aub depends on its 5'UTR. Furthermore, mutations of a piRNA target site in Enolase 5'UTR lead to GSC loss. These data reveal an Aub/piRNA function in translational activation of glycolytic mRNAs in GSCs, and pinpoint a mechanism of regulation of metabolic reprogramming in stem cells based on small RNAs.

Citing Articles

Zike A, Abel M, Fleck S, DeWitt E, Weaver L bioRxiv. 2025; .

PMID: 40034644 PMC: 11875244. DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.29.635514.

PIWI proteins and piRNAs: key regulators of stem cell biology.

Claro-Linares F, Rojas-Rios P Front Cell Dev Biol. 2025; 13:1540313.

PMID: 39981094 PMC: 11839606. DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1540313.

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