* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received December 5, 2016; Revision received January 23, 2017
In this review we consider the role of the piRNA system in transposable element silencing in the Drosophila melanogaster germline. We focus on new data that demonstrate the mechanisms of initiation of piRNA biogenesis in ovarian germinal cells and the role of Piwi protein in this process, including our own results.
KEY WORDS: transposon, Piwi protein, piRNA, Drosophila, small RNAsDOI: 10.1134/S0006297917050042