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Xie S, Qin R, Zeng W, Li J, Lai Y. Pseudopregnant mice generated from Piwil1 deficiency sterile mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296414. [PMID: 38771805 PMCID: PMC11108164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Vasectomized mice play a key role in the production of transgenic mice. However, vasectomy can cause great physical and psychological suffering to mice. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a suitable replacement for vasectomized mice in the production of transgenic mice. In this study, we generated C57BL/6J mice (Piwil1 D633A-INS99, Piwil1mt/mt) with a 99-base insertion in the Miwi (Piwil1) gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and showed that Piwil1mt/+ heterozygous mice were normally fertile and that homozygous Piwil1mt/mt males were sterile and females were fertile. Transplantation of normal fertilized eggs into wild pseudopregnant females following mating with Piwil1mt/mt males produced no Piwil1mt/mt genotype offspring, and the number of offspring did not differ significantly from that of pseudopregnant mice following mating and breeding with ligated males. The CRISPR‒Cas9 system is available for generating Miwi-modified mice, and provides a powerful resource to replace ligated males in assisted reproduction research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuoshuo Xie
- Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Medical Genetics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ruixin Qin
- Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Medical Genetics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wentao Zeng
- Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Medical Genetics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Laboratory Animal Center, Animal Core facility, Key Laboratory of Model Animal, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jianmin Li
- Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Medical Genetics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Laboratory Animal Center, Animal Core facility, Key Laboratory of Model Animal, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yana Lai
- Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Medical Genetics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Jiangsu Laboratory Animal Center, Animal Core facility, Key Laboratory of Model Animal, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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2
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Romeo-Cardeillac C, Trovero MF, Radío S, Smircich P, Rodríguez-Casuriaga R, Geisinger A, Sotelo-Silveira J. Uncovering a multitude of stage-specific splice variants and putative protein isoforms generated along mouse spermatogenesis. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:295. [PMID: 38509455 PMCID: PMC10953240 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10170-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian testis is a highly complex and heterogeneous tissue. This complexity, which mostly derives from spermatogenic cells, is reflected at the transcriptional level, with the largest number of tissue-specific genes and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) compared to other tissues, and one of the highest rates of alternative splicing. Although it is known that adequate alternative-splicing patterns and stage-specific isoforms are critical for successful spermatogenesis, so far only a very limited number of reports have addressed a detailed study of alternative splicing and isoforms along the different spermatogenic stages. RESULTS In the present work, using highly purified stage-specific testicular cell populations, we detected 33,002 transcripts expressed throughout mouse spermatogenesis not annotated so far. These include both splice variants of already annotated genes, and of hitherto unannotated genes. Using conservative criteria, we uncovered 13,471 spermatogenic lncRNAs, which reflects the still incomplete annotation of lncRNAs. A distinctive feature of lncRNAs was their lower number of splice variants compared to protein-coding ones, adding to the conclusion that lncRNAs are, in general, less complex than mRNAs. Besides, we identified 2,794 unannotated transcripts with high coding potential (including some arising from yet unannotated genes), many of which encode unnoticed putative testis-specific proteins. Some of the most interesting coding splice variants were chosen, and validated through RT-PCR. Remarkably, the largest number of stage-specific unannotated transcripts are expressed during early meiotic prophase stages, whose study has been scarcely addressed in former transcriptomic analyses. CONCLUSIONS We detected a high number of yet unannotated genes and alternatively spliced transcripts along mouse spermatogenesis, hence showing that the transcriptomic diversity of the testis is considerably higher than previously reported. This is especially prominent for specific, underrepresented stages such as those of early meiotic prophase, and its unveiling may constitute a step towards the understanding of their key events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Romeo-Cardeillac
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Fernanda Trovero
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Santiago Radío
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosana Rodríguez-Casuriaga
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Adriana Geisinger
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), 11,400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - José Sotelo-Silveira
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, UdelaR, 11,400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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3
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Identification and Characterization of Piwi-Interacting RNAs for Early Testicular Development in Yak. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012320. [PMID: 36293174 PMCID: PMC9603861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal testicular development plays a crucial role in male reproduction and is the precondition for spermatogenesis. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are novel noncoding RNAs expressed in animal germ cells that form complexes with PIWI family proteins and are involved in germ cell development, differentiation, and spermatogenesis. However, changes in piRNA expression profiles during early testicular development in yak have not been investigated. In this study, we used small RNA sequencing to evaluate the differences and potential functions of piRNA expression profiles in 6-, 18-, and 30-month-old yak testis tissues. Differential expression analysis found 109, 293, and 336 differentially expressed piRNAs in M30 vs. M18, M18 vs. M6, and M30 vs. M6, respectively, and found 30 common differentially expressed piRNAs in the three groups of M6, M18, and M30. In addition, the functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed piRNAs target genes indicated that they were related to testicular development and spermatogenesis. Finally, we detected the expression of the PIWI protein family in the yak testis at different developmental stages and found that PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PIWIL3, and PIWIL4 were highly expressed in 18- and 30-month-old yak testis and almost not expressed in 6-month-old yak testis. In conclusion, this study summarizes the changes of piRNA expression patterns during the early development of yak testis and provides new clues for the regulatory role of piRNA in yak testis.
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4
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Hadziselimovic F, Verkauskas G, Stadler M. A novel role for CFTR interaction with LH and FGF in azoospermia and epididymal maldevelopment caused by cryptorchidism. Basic Clin Androl 2022; 32:10. [PMID: 35725394 PMCID: PMC9210799 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-022-00160-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptorchidism occurs frequently in children with cystic fibrosis. Among boys with cryptorchidism and abrogated mini-puberty, the development of the epididymis and the vas deferens is frequently impaired. This finding suggests that a common cause underlies the abnormal development of Ad spermatogonia and the epididymis. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an ATP-binding cassette transporter protein that acts as a chloride channel. The CFTR gene has been associated with spermatogenesis and male fertility. In boys with cryptorchidism, prepubertal hypogonadotropic hypogonadism induces suboptimal expression of the ankyrin-like protein gene, ASZ1, the P-element induced wimpy testis-like gene, PIWIL, and CFTR. The abrogated expression of these gene leads to transposon reactivation, and ultimately, infertility. Curative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment stimulates the expression of CFTR and PIWIL3, which play important roles in the development of Ad spermatogonia and fertility. Furthermore, GnRHa stimulates the expression of the epididymal androgen-sensitive genes, CRISP1, WFDC8, SPINK13, and PAX2, which thereby promotes epididymal development. This review focuses on molecular evidence that favors a role for CFTR in cryptorchidism-induced infertility. Based on information available in the literature, we interpreted our RNA-Seq expression data obtained from samples before and after randomized GnRHa treatment in boys with bilateral cryptorchidism. We propose that, in boys with cryptorchidism, CFTR expression is controlled by luteinizing hormone and testosterone. Moreover, CFTR regulates the activities of genes that are important for fertility and Wolffian duct differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faruk Hadziselimovic
- Cryptorchidism Research Institute, Children's Day Care Center Liestal, 4410, Liestal, Schweiz, Switzerland.
| | - Gilvydas Verkauskas
- Children's Surgery Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 01513, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Michael Stadler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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5
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Ma X, Niu X, Huang S, Li S, Ran X, Wang J, Dai X. The piRNAs present in the developing testes of Chinese indigenous Xiang pigs. Theriogenology 2022; 189:92-106. [PMID: 35738035 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The piRNA pathway plays an essential role in defense against transposable elements in the germline tissues of animals and contributes to post-transcriptional regulation of genes. Xiang pigs present an earlier sexual maturation compared with most European pig breeds, but the role that the piRNA pathway plays in the development of Xiang pigs is currently not understood. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed piRNAs expressed in the testes of Xiang pigs at four different ages, and identified endogenous piRNAs which were highly abundant at each time point. The lengths of the identified piRNAs ranged from 24 to 34 nucleotides (nt), with the most abundant length being 29 nt. Additionally, there was a strong bias for uracil at the first position, a slight bias for adenine at position 10 and frequent 5'-10 nt complementary sequences, suggesting that ping-pong-mediated silencing is present in the Xiang pig germline. We observed that the piRNA composition changed from TE-associated piRNAs in two- and three-month-old testes to predominantly gene-derived and intergenic piRNAs in six- and twelve-month-old testes, with a gradual increase in the expression level of piRNAs over the course of testis development. And more than half of piRNA reads mapped to just a few of 473 predicted piRNA clusters. Additionally, we found that several genes were highly enriched by piRNA reads, including CYP19A1, PRMT8, SUZ12, WWOX, SGSM1 and MIF. The functions of these genes are primarily associated with steroidogenesis and histone modification. Changes in piRNA composition and widespread expression patterns during spermatid development indicate that these small ncRNAs may be responsible not only for transposon suppression but also for post-transcriptional regulation of several protein-coding genes essential for normal spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrui Ma
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Xi Niu
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Shihui Huang
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Sheng Li
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Xueqin Ran
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Jiafu Wang
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Xinlan Dai
- College of Animal Science/Institute of Agro-Bioengineering/College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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6
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Geisinger A, Rodríguez-Casuriaga R, Benavente R. Transcriptomics of Meiosis in the Male Mouse. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:626020. [PMID: 33748111 PMCID: PMC7973102 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.626020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular studies of meiosis in mammals have been long relegated due to some intrinsic obstacles, namely the impossibility to reproduce the process in vitro, and the difficulty to obtain highly pure isolated cells of the different meiotic stages. In the recent years, some technical advances, from the improvement of flow cytometry sorting protocols to single-cell RNAseq, are enabling to profile the transcriptome and its fluctuations along the meiotic process. In this mini-review we will outline the diverse methodological approaches that have been employed, and some of the main findings that have started to arise from these studies. As for practical reasons most studies have been carried out in males, and mostly using mouse as a model, our focus will be on murine male meiosis, although also including specific comments about humans. Particularly, we will center on the controversy about gene expression during early meiotic prophase; the widespread existing gap between transcription and translation in meiotic cells; the expression patterns and potential roles of meiotic long non-coding RNAs; and the visualization of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation from the RNAseq perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Geisinger
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosana Rodríguez-Casuriaga
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ricardo Benavente
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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7
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Qiu GH, Huang C, Zheng X, Yang X. The protective function of noncoding DNA in genome defense of eukaryotic male germ cells. Epigenomics 2018; 10:499-517. [PMID: 29616594 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral and abundant noncoding DNA has been hypothesized to protect the genome and the central protein-coding sequences against DNA damage in somatic genome. In the cytosol, invading exogenous nucleic acids may first be deactivated by small RNAs encoded by noncoding DNA via mechanisms similar to the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas system. In the nucleus, the radicals generated by radiation in the cytosol, radiation energy and invading exogenous nucleic acids are absorbed, blocked and/or reduced by peripheral heterochromatin, and damaged DNA in heterochromatin is removed and excluded from the nucleus to the cytoplasm through nuclear pore complexes. To further strengthen the hypothesis, this review summarizes the experimental evidence supporting the protective function of noncoding DNA in the genome of male germ cells. Based on these data, this review provides evidence supporting the protective role of noncoding DNA in the genome defense of sperm genome through similar mechanisms to those of the somatic genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Hua Qiu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for the Prevention & Control of Animal Infectious Diseases & Biotechnology; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Fujian Province University; College of Life Sciences, Longyan University, Longyan 364012, Fujian, PR China
| | - Cuiqin Huang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for the Prevention & Control of Animal Infectious Diseases & Biotechnology; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Fujian Province University; College of Life Sciences, Longyan University, Longyan 364012, Fujian, PR China
| | - Xintian Zheng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for the Prevention & Control of Animal Infectious Diseases & Biotechnology; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Fujian Province University; College of Life Sciences, Longyan University, Longyan 364012, Fujian, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for the Prevention & Control of Animal Infectious Diseases & Biotechnology; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Fujian Province University; College of Life Sciences, Longyan University, Longyan 364012, Fujian, PR China
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8
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Yoshimura T, Watanabe T, Kuramochi-Miyagawa S, Takemoto N, Shiromoto Y, Kudo A, Kanai-Azuma M, Tashiro F, Miyazaki S, Katanaya A, Chuma S, Miyazaki JI. Mouse GTSF1 is an essential factor for secondary piRNA biogenesis. EMBO Rep 2018; 19:embr.201642054. [PMID: 29437694 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201642054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The piRNA pathway is a piRNA-guided retrotransposon silencing system which includes processing of retrotransposon transcripts by PIWI-piRNAs in secondary piRNA biogenesis. Although several proteins participate in the piRNA pathway, the ones crucial for the cleavage of target RNAs by PIWI-piRNAs have not been identified. Here, we show that GTSF1, an essential factor for retrotransposon silencing in male germ cells in mice, associates with both MILI and MIWI2, mouse PIWI proteins that function in prospermatogonia. GTSF1 deficiency leads to a severe defect in the production of secondary piRNAs, which are generated from target RNAs of PIWI-piRNAs. Furthermore, in Gtsf1 mutants, a known target RNA of PIWI-piRNAs is left unsliced at the cleavage site, and the generation of secondary piRNAs from this transcript is defective. Our findings indicate that GTSF1 is a crucial factor for the slicing of target RNAs by PIWI-piRNAs and thus affects secondary piRNA biogenesis in prospermatogonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuji Yoshimura
- Laboratory of Reproductive Engineering, The Institute of Experimental Animal Sciences, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Division of Stem Cell Regulation Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Watanabe
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satomi Kuramochi-Miyagawa
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Noriaki Takemoto
- Division of Stem Cell Regulation Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Shiromoto
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kudo
- Department of Anatomy, Kyorin University School of Medicine Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Kanai-Azuma
- Center for Experimental Animal, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumi Tashiro
- Division of Stem Cell Regulation Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satsuki Miyazaki
- Division of Stem Cell Regulation Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ami Katanaya
- Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Chuma
- Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Miyazaki
- Division of Stem Cell Regulation Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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9
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Abstract
Stem cell differentiation involves a delicate balance of gene expression and transposon repression. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Shibata et al. (2016) show that a PIWI protein expressed in planarian stem cells is inherited by their differentiating descendants to ensure regenerative capacity of the flatworm via transposon silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marla E Tharp
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Alex Bortvin
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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10
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Abstract
It is known that spermatogenic disorders are associated with genetic deficiency, although the primary mechanism is still unclear. It is difficult to demonstrate the molecular events occurring in testis, which contains germ cells at different developmental stages. However, transcriptomic methods can help us reveal the molecular drive of male gamete generation. Many transcriptomic studies have been performed on rodents by utilizing the timing of the first wave of spermatogenesis, which is not a suitable strategy for research in fertile men. With the development of separation methods for male germ cells, transcriptome research on the molecular drive of spermatogenesis in fertile men has seen great progress, and the results could be ultimately applied to improve the diagnosis and treatment for male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zheng Li
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127; Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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11
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Docampo MJ, Hadziselimovic F. Molecular Pathology of Cryptorchidism-Induced Infertility. Sex Dev 2015; 9:269-78. [DOI: 10.1159/000442059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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12
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Kim M, Ki BS, Hong K, Park SP, Ko JJ, Choi Y. Tudor Domain Containing Protein TDRD12 Expresses at the Acrosome of Spermatids in Mouse Testis. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2015; 29:944-51. [PMID: 26954166 PMCID: PMC4932588 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.15.0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tdrd12 is one of tudor domain containing (Tdrd) family members. However, the expression pattern of Tdrd12 has not been well studied. To compare the expression levels of Tdrd12 in various tissues, real time-polymerase chain reaction was performed using total RNAs from liver, small intestine, heart, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, stomach, uterus, ovary, and testis. Tdrd12 mRNA was highly expressed in testis. Antibody against mouse TDRD12 were generated using amino acid residues SQRPNEKPLRLTEKKDC of TDRD12 to investigate TDRD12 localization in testis. Immunostaining assay shows that TDRD12 is mainly localized at the spermatid in the seminiferous tubules of adult testes. During postnatal development, TDRD12 is differentially expressed. TDRD12 was detected in early spermatocytes at 2 weeks and TDRD12 was localized at acrosome of the round spermatids. TDRD12 expression was not co-localized with TDRD1 which is an important component of piRNA pathway in germ cells. Our results indicate that TDRD12 may play an important role in spermatids and function as a regulator of spermatogenesis in dependent of TDRD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea
| | - Byeong Seong Ki
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea
| | - Kwonho Hong
- Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, Korea
| | - Se-Pill Park
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Applied Life Science, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea
| | - Jung-Jae Ko
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea
| | - Youngsok Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea
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13
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Hadziselimovic F, Hadziselimovic NO, Demougin P, Krey G, Oakeley E. Piwi-pathway alteration induces LINE-1 transposon derepression and infertility development in cryptorchidism. Sex Dev 2015; 9:98-104. [PMID: 25791297 DOI: 10.1159/000375351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonia contain processing bodies that harbor P-element-induced wimpy testis (Piwi) proteins. Piwi proteins are associated specifically with Piwi-interacting RNAs to silence transposable DNA elements. Loss-of-function mutations in the Piwi pathway lead to derepression of transposable elements, resulting in defective spermatogenesis. Furthermore, deletion of gametocyte-specific factor 1 (GTSF1), a factor involved in Piwi-mediated transcriptional repression, causes male-specific sterility and derepression of LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposons. No previous studies have examined GTSF1, L1 and PIWIL4 expression in cryptorchidism. We examined transposon-silencing genes and L1 transposon expression in testicular biopsies with Affymetrix microarrays and immunohistology. Seven members of the Tudor gene family, 3 members of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family, and the GTSF1 gene were found to show significantly lower RNA signals in the high-infertility-risk group. In the immunohistochemical analysis, patients from the low-infertility-risk group showed coherently stronger staining for GTSF1 and PIWIL4 proteins and weaker staining for L1 transposon when compared to the high-infertility-risk samples. These new findings provide first evidence consistent with the idea that infertility in cryptorchidism is a consequence of alterations in the Piwi pathway and transposon derepression induced by the impaired function of mini-puberty.
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Abstract
Piwi proteins and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are essential for gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and stem cell maintenance in animals. Piwi proteins act on transposon RNAs by cleaving the RNAs and by interacting with factors involved in RNA regulation. Additionally, piRNAs generated from transposons and psuedogenes can be used by Piwi proteins to regulate mRNAs at the posttranscriptional level. Here we discuss piRNA biogenesis, recent findings on posttranscriptional regulation of mRNAs by the piRNA pathway, and the potential importance of this posttranscriptional regulation for a variety of biological processes such as gametogenesis, developmental transitions, and sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiaki Watanabe
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Haifan Lin
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
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15
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Ross JP, Kassir Z. The varied roles of nuclear argonaute-small RNA complexes and avenues for therapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2014; 3:e203. [PMID: 25313622 PMCID: PMC4217078 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2014.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Argonautes are highly conserved proteins found in almost all eukaryotes and some bacteria and archaea. In humans, there are eight argonaute proteins evenly distributed across two clades, the Ago clade (AGO1-4) and the Piwi clade (PIWIL1-4). The function of Ago proteins is best characterized by their role in RNA interference (RNAi) and cytoplasmic post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) – which involves the loading of siRNA or miRNA into argonaute to direct silencing of genes at the posttranscriptional or translational level. However, nuclear-localized, as opposed to cytoplasmic, argonaute-small RNA complexes may also orchestrate the mechanistically very different process of transcriptional gene silencing, which results in prevention of transcription from a gene locus by the formation of silent chromatin domains. More recently, the role of argonaute in other aspects of epigenetic regulation of chromatin, alternative splicing and DNA repair is emerging. This review focuses on the activity of nuclear-localized short RNA-argonaute complexes in a mammalian setting and discusses recent in vivo studies employing nuclear-directed sRNA for therapeutic interventions. These studies heed the potential development of RNA-based drugs which induce epigenetic changes in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Ross
- CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zena Kassir
- 1] CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [2] Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Yakushev EY, Sokolova OA, Gvozdev VA, Klenov MS. Multifunctionality of PIWI proteins in control of germline stem cell fate. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2014; 78:585-91. [PMID: 23980885 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297913060047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PIWI proteins interacting with specific type of small RNAs (piRNAs) repress transposable elements in animals. Besides, they have been shown to participate in various cellular processes: in the regulation of heterochromatin formation including telomere structures, in the control of translation and the cell cycle, and in DNA rearrangements. PIWI proteins were first identified by their roles in the self-renewal of germline stem cells. PIWI protein functions are not limited to gonadogenesis, but the role in determining the fate of stem cells is their specific feature conserved throughout the evolution of animals. Molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are far from being understood. This review focuses on the role of PIWI proteins in the control of maintenance and proliferation of germinal stem cells and its relation to the known function of PIWI in transposon repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Y Yakushev
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 123182, Russia
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17
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Shatskikh AS, Gvozdev VA. Heterochromatin formation and transcription in relation to trans-inactivation of genes and their spatial organization in the nucleus. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2013; 78:603-12. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297913060060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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