Transcriptome analysis in mouse early round spermatids deficient in pachytene piRNAs (Miwi+/- and -/-)

ABSTRACT: In animal germline cells, Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) silence retrotransposons through post-transcriptional and transcriptional mechanisms. However, little is known, especially in mammals, about the functions of piRNAs beyond retrotransposon suppression1-5. In mammalian spermatocytes, piRNAs are known to be abundantly expressed6-10. Here, we show that a subset of coding and noncoding RNAs in mouse spermatocytes is degraded by the piRNA pathway. By analyzing the germline trasnscriptome of mice deficient in piRNA biogenesis, we identify hundreds of mRNAs as direct targets of piRNAs. Remarkably, the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the mRNAs up-regulated in the piRNA pathway mutants are highly enriched with retrotransposon sequenes, implying that these sequences serve as regulatory elements

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Toshiaki Watanabe 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-41974 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress