Long noncoding RNAs in spermatogenesis: insights from recent high-throughput transcriptome studies.
Spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process in which undifferentiated spermatogonia are differentiated into spermatocytes and spermatids through two rounds of meiotic division and finally giving rise to mature spermatozoa (sperm). These processes involve many testis- or male germ cell-specific gene products that undergo strict developmental regulations. As a result, identifying critical, regulatory genes controlling spermatogenesis provide the clues not only to the regulatory mechanism of spermatogenesis at the molecular level, but also to the identification of candidate genes for infertility or contraceptives development. Despite the biological importance in male germ cell development, the underlying mechanisms of stage-specific gene regulation and cellular transition during spermatogenesis remain largely elusive. Previous genomic studies on transcriptome profiling were largely limited to protein-coding genes. Importantly, protein-coding genes only account for a small percentage of transcriptome; the majority are noncoding transcripts that do not translate into proteins. Although small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs, siRNAs, and Piwi-interacting RNAs are extensively investigated in male germ cell development, the role of long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), commonly defined as ncRNAs longer than 200 bp, is relatively unexplored. Herein, we summarize recent transcriptome studies on spermatogenesis and show examples that a subset of noncoding transcript population, known as lncRNAs, constitutes a novel regulatory target in spermatogenesis.
School of Biomedical Sciences, Room 622A, Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
Alfred Chun-Shui
AC
Luk
Wai-Yee
WY
Chan
Owen M
OM
Rennert
Tin-Lap
TL
Lee
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding