Abstract: [Objcetive] To update, there is no research on piRNAs and its binding protein Piwi in poultry. It is essential to carry out the study on small RNA and its binding protein in poultry, which will provided basic foundation for the study of genetic characters, occurrence and disappearance mechanisms of small RNAs and transgenic chicken in avian. [Mehtod] [Result] In this study, we obtained 13 piRNAs cloned sequences and CDS of the Piwil1 gene from the testis of quail for the first time by constructing cDNA library and TA cloning and sequencing. Next, we analyzed the expression of piRNAs and Piwil1 in quail tissues for different stage of life by Q-PCR. [Conclusion] The results showed that the length of quail piRNAs was similar to mammals; In quail, Piwil1 gene had high homology with that of the red jungle fowl, whose protein contained the PAZ and Piwi domain, and had no signal peptide splice site, suggesting that it belonged to Piwi family and might play a regulatory role by reducing the capacity of binding RNA or affecting the affinity between other transcription factors and the promoter of structural gene; In testis, the expression of piRNAs and Piwil1 gene increased with the development of individuals, so we inferred that piRNAs might regulate the process of spermatogenesis through interacting with Piwi proteins in poultry.

Key words: quail, testis, piRNAs, Piwi, clone