Human/Rat PIWIL2 Antibody

PIWIL2 (PIWI [P-element-induced wimpy testis]-like 2; also HILI) is a 100-110 kDa cytosolic member of the PIWI subfamily, Argonaute family of proteins. It is expressed in the germ line, particularly in premeiotic and early meiotic germ cells, plus mesenchymal stem cells, and in select cancer stem cells such as CD44⁺CD24^- breast cancer cells. PIWIL2 likely silences mobile genetic elements in germ cells, and appears to depress stem cell proliferation by inhibiting the expression of cell cycle genes. Human PIWIL2 is 973 amino acids (aa) in length. It contains one PAZ domain (aa 384-496) and a C-terminal PIWI domain (aa 668-959) that interact with RNA. There are multiple methylation sites on arginines. Two potential splice forms are reported, one that shows a deletion of aa 887-922, and a second that contains a 12 aa substitution for aa 486-801. Over aa 216-379, human PIWIL2 shares 96% aa identity with rat PIWIL2.