Stability, delivery and functions of human sperm RNAs at fertilization.

ABSTRACT: Increasing attention has focused on the significance of RNA in sperm, in light of its contribution to the birth and long-term health of a child, role in sperm function and diagnostic potential. As the composition of sperm RNA is in flux, assigning specific roles to individual RNAs presents a significant challenge. For the first time RNA-seq was used to characterize the population of coding and non-coding transcripts in human sperm. Examining RNA representation as a function of multiple methods of library preparation revealed unique features indicative of very specific and stage-dependent maturation and regulation of sperm RNA, illuminating their various transitional roles. Correlation of sperm transcript abundance with epigenetic marks suggested roles for these elements in the pre- and pos

SUBMITTER: Sendler E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3627604 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature