The expression patterns of genes involved in the RNAi pathways are tissue-dependent and differ in the germ and somatic cells of mouse testis.
Different RNA interference (RNAi) components participate in post-transcriptional regulation via RNA silencing. The expression pattern of the genes Drosha and Dicer and the members of the Argonaute family Ago1, Ago2, Ago3 and Ago4, all elements participating in the RNAi pathways, were investigated in mouse somatic tissues and testis using quantitative RT-PCR. Expression patterns of different testis cells and those emerging during testis development were also investigated. The differential patterns of expression seen suggest potential pleiotropic roles for certain components of the RNAi machinery. Both spermatocytes and spermatids showed a defined gene expression pattern. The strong expression of Ago4 in germ cells suggests that this protein plays a key role in germ-cell differentiation in the seminiferous epithelium.
González-González
Emilio
E
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
López-Casas
Pedro P
PP
del Mazo
Jesús
J
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; D043244:Ribonuclease III