PIWI相互作用RNA (piRNA)是一类小型非编码RNA，可以与Argonaute家族PIWI clade的蛋白质结合。这些RNA最初在动物生殖细胞中被发现，对生殖细胞发育具有重要作用。首次报道PIWI-piRNA复合物的功能是沉默转座子，这对于维护生殖细胞基因组的完整性至关重要。随后的研究通过证实它们调节蛋白质编码基因来为我们提供了PIWI-piRNA复合物功能的新洞见。近期对piRNA生物学的研究，包括在新的模式生物如金色大仓鼠中，已深入了解piRNA生物合成和功能。在本综述中，我们讨论了对piRNA生物合成的最新进展、piRNA功能的分子机制以及piRNA在果蝇和小鼠的生殖细胞发育、不育、癌症和神经系统疾病方面的新兴作用的最新进展。© 2022. Springer Nature Limited.

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that associate with proteins of the PIWI clade of the Argonaute family. First identified in animal germ line cells, piRNAs have essential roles in germ line development. The first function of PIWI-piRNA complexes to be described was the silencing of transposable elements, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the germ line genome. Later studies provided new insights into the functions of PIWI-piRNA complexes by demonstrating that they regulate protein-coding genes. Recent studies of piRNA biology, including in new model organisms such as golden hamsters, have deepened our understanding of both piRNA biogenesis and piRNA function. In this Review, we discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of piRNA biogenesis, the molecular mechanisms of piRNA function and the emerging roles of piRNAs in germ line development mainly in flies and mice, and in infertility, cancer and neurological diseases in humans.© 2022. Springer Nature Limited.