Deregulated sex chromosome gene expression with male germ cell-specific loss of Dicer1 (gene array data)

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, non-coding RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional gene silencing by inhibiting mRNA translation and promoting mRNA decay. DICER1, an RNAse III endonuclease encoded by Dicer1, is required for processing short 21-22 nucleotide miRNAs from longer double-stranded RNA precursors. Here, we investigate the loss of Dicer1 in mouse postnatal male germ cells to determine how disruptions in the miRNA biogenesis pathway may contribute to infertility. Reduced levels of Dicer1 transcripts and DICER1 were confirmed in germ cell knock-out (GCKO) testes by postnatal day 18 (P18). Compared to wild-type (WT) at 8 weeks, GCKO males had no change in body weight, yet showed significant reductions in testis mass and sperm number. Histology and fertility tests confirm

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Timothy Stearns 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-38891 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress