title: Small RNAs in early mammalian development: from gametes to gastrulation.
abstract: Small non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), play essential roles in mammalian development. The function and timing of expression of these three classes of small RNAs differ greatly. piRNAs are expressed and play a crucial role during male gametogenesis, whereas endo-siRNAs are essential for oocyte meiosis. By contrast, miRNAs are ubiquitously expressed in somatic tissues and function throughout post-implantation development. Surprisingly, however, miRNAs are non-essential during pre-implantation embryonic development and their function is suppressed during oocyte meiosis. Here, we review the roles of small non-coding RNAs during the early stages of mammalian development, from gamete maturation through to gastrulation.
authors.affiliation: The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, and Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blelloch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D054262:Gastrulation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated