The beginning of the end: Vienna BioCenter collaboration reveals how PIWI proteins protect animal genomes

Researchers at the Vienna BioCenter have solved a 20-year-old mystery in genome biology, revealing how PIWI proteins engage partner molecules to silence “jumping genes” that threaten genetic stability. The findings result of a collaboration between the labs of Julius Brennecke at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and Clemens Plaschka at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP). The scientists combined AI-based protein structure prediction with biochemistry and genetics to describe the first steps of PIWI-mediated transposon silencing.

04.09.2025

Cover Image: Transposon expression (yellow) is silenced by PIWI in Drosophila ovaries (left), but activates in the absence of Piwi and its partners (right). © Júlia Portell i de Montserrat / IMBA.

Read the full story at the Vienna BioCenter's website.

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The beginning of the end: Vienna BioCenter collaboration reveals how PIWI proteins protect animal genomes

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