Alexei A. Aravin

TL;DR: A relatively small set of miRNAs, many of which are ubiquitously expressed, account for most of the differences in miRNA profiles between cell lineages and tissues.

TL;DR: This work has predicted target sites on the 3′ untranslated regions of human gene transcripts for all currently known 218 mammalian miRNAs to facilitate focused experiments and suggests that miRNA genes, which are about 1% of all human genes, regulate protein production for 10% or more of allhuman genes.

TL;DR: Examination of piwi-interacting RNAs associated with each Drosophila Piwi protein finds that Piwi and Aubergine bind RNAs that are predominantly antisense to transposons, whereas Ago3 complexes contain predominantly sense piRNAs.

TL;DR: A new class of small RNAs that bind to MILI in mouse male germ cells, where they accumulate at the onset of meiosis are described, and are referred to as ‘Piwi-interacting RNAs’ or piRNAs.

TL;DR: Owing to their limited expression in gonads and their sequence diversity, piRNAs have been the most mysterious class of small non-coding RNAs regulating RNA silencing, but much progress is being made into the understanding of their biogenesis and molecular functions, including the specific subcellular compartmentalization of the piRNA pathway in granular cytoplasmic bodies.