Figure 6.

Functions of piRNAs. (a) Transgenic zygotes were microinjected with 2 pl control 1 (PBS), control 2, piR-11, and piR-12, and incubated for 8 h, followed by immunofluorescence staining. Injection of piRNAs enhanced Mili and Dnmt3a expression. (b) Transgenic zygotes were microinjected with 2 pl control 1 (PBS), control 2, and piR-11, and incubated for 8 h. Injection with piR-11 increased mRNA levels of Mili and Dnmt3a. **P<0.01. Error bars, S.D. (n=4). (c) MSP analysis showed that injection with piR-11 enhanced the methylation levels of miR-17-92, miR-98, miR-25, miR-23, and miR-207 in zygotes. *P<0.05. **P<0.01. Error bars, S.D. (n=4). (d) Injection with piR-11 repressed miRNA levels in zygotes. *P<0.05. **P<0.01. Error bars, S.D. (n=4). (e) Injection with piR-11 enhanced piRNA levels in zygotes. *P<0.05. **P<0.01. Error bars, S.D. (n=4). (f) Injection with Mili or Dnmt3a enhanced piRNA expression in zygotes. *P<0.05. Error bars, S.D. (n=4). (g) Injection with Mili increased Dnmt3a expression, while injection with Dnmt3a enhanced Mili expression in the zygotes