Loss of Belle (Bel), a DEAD-box RNA helicase, induces transgene silencing.
Spindle-E, Mod(mdg4) and Dcr-1 mediate transgene silencing in bel mutants.
The balance between Spindle-E and Bel is vital to sustain the nuage integrity.
Inhibition of Bel leads to the de novo generation of piRNAs from the transgene.