Conserved enhancer association of piRNAs and the implication in germ cell fate surveillance

We identified numerous human piRNAs in second-trimester fetal testes that corresponded to small nucleolar RNAs. Additionally, a substantial proportion of human fetal testicular piRNAs mapped to super-enhancers and typical enhancers, a phenomenon conversed across mouse and chicken species.

Notably, many of the pre-pachytene germline piRNAs mapped to enhancers active in various adult somatic lineages, implying they may regulate enhancer activities and safeguard germ cell identity by reducing aberrant expression of somatic genes.