This study uses CRISPR-Cas9 to reduce HBV DNA in infected cells, showing it suppresses random integration without affecting chromosomal translocations.

Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids · May 1, 2026Peer-reviewedBioengineering

Relaxed targeting rules allow PIWI-clade Argonaute proteins to silence ever-mutating transposons

Ildar V. Gainetdinov, Katharine R. Cecchini, Joel Vega‐Badillo, Ayca Bagci, Cansu Colpan, Amena Arif, Pei‐Hsuan Wu, Phillip D. Zamore

This study shows PIWI-clade Argonaute proteins can cleave transposon transcripts with mismatches, making them more effective against mutating transposons than AGO-clade Argonautes.

bioRxiv · Aug 4, 2022 · PreprintMolecular Biology

Terminal Modification, Sequence, and Length Determine Small RNA Stability in Animals

Ildar V. Gainetdinov, Cansu Colpan, Katharine R. Cecchini, Amena Arif, Karina Jouravleva, Paul Albosta, Joel Vega‐Badillo, Yongjin Lee, Deniz Mahmut Özata, Phillip D. Zamore

This study shows that terminal modifications like 2'-O-methylation and trimming protect piRNAs from decay, while complementarity affects miRNA stability in mice and flies.

Molecular Cell · Oct 9, 2021Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology

The testis-specific transcription factor TCFL5 responds to A MYBto elaborate the male meiotic program in placental mammals

Deniz Mahmut Özata, Tianxiong Yu, Katharine R. Cecchini, Haiwei Mou, Amena Arif, Cansu Colpan, Adriano Biasini, Ildar V. Gainetdinov, Dirk G. de Rooij, Zhiping Weng, Phillip D. Zamore

The paper shows that A-MYB activates TCFL5, which is essential for meiosis and spermiogenesis in placental mammals, and its loss causes sterility.

bioRxiv · Apr 4, 2021 · PreprintGenetics

An Evolutionarily Conserved piRNA-producing Locus Required for Male Mouse Fertility

Pei‐Hsuan Wu, Yu Fu, Katharine R. Cecchini, Deniz Mahmut Özata, Amena Arif, Tianxiong Yu, Cansu Colpan, Ildar V. Gainetdinov, Zhiping Weng, Phillip D. Zamore

This study identifies a conserved piRNA locus, pi6, essential for male mouse fertility and embryo viability by regulating sperm function through mRNA cleavage.

Nature Genetics · Jun 29, 2020Peer-reviewedGenetics

A Single Mechanism of Biogenesis, Initiated and Directed by PIWI Proteins, Explains piRNA Production in Most Animals

Ildar V. Gainetdinov, Cansu Colpan, Amena Arif, Katharine R. Cecchini, Phillip D. Zamore

The paper proposes a unified mechanism for piRNA biogenesis initiated by PIWI proteins, showing it operates across diverse animal species.

Molecular Cell · Sep 1, 2018Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology