In the episode featuring Dr. Priyadarshini, the spotlight is on the innovative use of single-guide Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to guide the piRNA pathway for specific gene silencing in the Caenorhabditis elegans organism, which encompasses the hermaphrodite germline, sperm, and embryos. Termed as piRNA-mediated interference (piRNAi), this method presents a more efficient and scalable approach than traditional RNAi. A unique characteristic of piRNAi is its ability for conditional gene silencing and induction of transgenerational epigenetic silencing, suggesting its potential for in-depth studies on transgenerational inheritance. When benchmarked against other gene-silencing methods, piRNAi stands out for its programmability and efficiency. However, it's not without limitations, such as its germline-specific expression and the need for transgene injections. Yet, Dr. Priyadarshini emphasizes the vast potential of piRNAi, especially in the context of exploring the realms of piRNA biology and epigenetic silencing.

Keywords:

piRNAi

Gene silencing

Caenorhabditis elegans

Transgenerational epigenetic silencing

PRG-1

RNAi

Epigenetic

Germ-line

Endogenous genes

CRISPR interference (CRISPRi).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01369-z