As inferred from mouse homologs, after binding PIWIL2 (HILI in human, MILI in mouse) the 3' end of the pre-piRNA is trimmed by an unknown nuclease. The final size of the piRNA appears to be determined by the particular PIWI protein with which it is associated. MOV10L1, which has a helicase domain, associates with PIWIL2 and is required for loading PIWIL2 with piRNA. PIWIL2, TDRD1, MVH, and ASZ are located in the intermitochondrial cement, the chromatoid body, and the pi-body, a type of nuage (reviewed in Pillai and Chuma 2012). (Nuage is electron-dense perinuclear material also known as germinal granules.)
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