The piRNA pathway protects the germline by post-transcriptionally silencing active transposons, but precise methylation is crucial to prevent genomic instability.
DNA methylation, a key defense against transposons, is erased during germ cell development, presenting a vulnerability that the piRNA pathway must address actively.
SPOCD1 connects the piRNA and de novo methylation machineries, highlighting its crucial role in the precision of transposon silencing during germ-cell development.
Failing to effectively methylate active transposons can lead to genomic instability, but inaccurate methylation poses risks of germline-transmitted epimutations.
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