The evolutionarily conserved gene, Fam114a2, is dispensable for fertility in mouse

The paralogs' enigma of germ-cell specific genes dispensable for fertility: the case of 19 oogenesin genes†

Gene knockout experiments have shown that many genes are dispensable for a given biological function. In this review, we make an assessment of male and female germ cell-specific genes dispensable for the function of reproduction in mice, the inactivation of which does not affect fertility. In particular, we describe the deletion of a 1 Mb block containing nineteen paralogous genes of the oogenesin/Pramel family specifically expressed in female and/or male germ cells, which has no consequences in both sexes. We discuss this notion of dispensability and the experiments that need to be carried out to definitively conclude that a gene is dispensable for a function.

Murine fertility and spermatogenesis are independent of the testis-specific Spdye4a gene

BACKGROUND

While many testis-enriched genes have been identified as important regulators of the spermatogenic process, the specific roles played by several of these genes and their functional importance has yet to be fully clarified.

METHODS

We employed a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to introduce a 5 bp in-frame deletion within the Spdye4a gene (Exon 2) of C57BL/6 mice (Spdye4a^-/-). Fertility and sperm counts were evaluated. Testes tissues and cell suspensions were analyzed via histological and immunofluorescence staining. mRNA and protein levels of candidate genes were assessed through qPCR and Western blotting. In vitro fertilization was used to assess the ability of sperm cells to bind to egg cells.

RESULTS

Spdye4a^-/- mice did not exhibit any reduction in fertility, and exhibited comparable sperm counts, morphology and motility to those of wildtype littermates. Functionally, Spdye4a^-/- sperm exhibited normal sperm-egg binding activity in vitro. Furthermore, the testes of Spdye4a^-/- mice exhibited a full range of germ cells from spermatogonia to mature spermatozoa. No differences in the progression of meiotic prophase I were observed when comparing Spdye4a^-/- and wildtype mice, indicating that the loss of Spdye4a had no adverse effect on spermatogenesis.

DISCUSSION

Spdye4a is dispensable in the context of mice fertility and spermatogenesis. This study will prevent other laboratories from expending repeated efforts to generate similar knockout mice.

Role of circular RNAs in disease progression and diagnosis of cancers: An overview of recent advanced insights

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a crucial regulator of tumor progression and cells in the TME release a number of molecules that are responsible for anaplasticity, invasion, metastasis of tumor, establishing stem cell niches, up-regulation and down-regulation of various pathways in cancer cells, interfering with immune surveillance and immune escape. Moreover, they can serve as diagnostic markers, and determine effective therapies. Among them, CircRNAs have gained special attention due to their involvement in mutated pathways in cancers. By functioning as a molecular sponge for miRNAs, binding with proteins, and directing selective splicing. CircRNAs modify the immunological environment of cancers to promote their growth. Besides of critical role in tumor growth, circRNAs are emerging as potential candidates as biomarkers for diagnosis cancer therapy. Also, circRNAs vaccination even offers a novel approach to tumor immunotherapy. Over the recent years, studies are advocating that circRNAs have tissue specific tumor specific expression patterns, which indicates their potential clinical utility. Especially, circRNAs have emerged as potential predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Although, there has been significant progress in deciphering the role of circRNA in cancers, literature lacks comprehensive overview on this topic. Keeping in view of these significant discoveries, this review systematically discusses circRNA and their role in the tumor in different dimensions.