title: miRNA signature in mouse spermatogonial stem cells revealed by high-throughput sequencing.
abstract: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) play fundamental roles in spermatogenesis. Although a handful of genes have been discovered as key regulators of SSC self-renewal and differentiation, the regulatory network responsible for SSC function remains unclear. In particular, small RNA signatures during mouse spermatogenesis are not yet systematically investigated. Here, using next generation sequencing, we compared small RNA signatures of in vitro expanded SSCs, testis-derived somatic cells (Sertoli cells), developing germ cells, mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and mouse mesenchymal stem cells among mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to address small RNA transition during mouse spermatogenesis. The results manifest that small RNA transition during mouse spermatogenesis displays overall declined expression profiles of miRNAs and endo-siRNAs, in parallel with elevated expression profiles of piRNAs, resulting in the normal biogenesis of sperms. Meanwhile, several novel miRNAs were preferentially expressed in mouse SSCs, and further investigation of their functional annotation will allow insights into the mechanisms involved in the regulation of SSC activities. We also demonstrated the similarity of miRNA signatures between SSCs and ESCs, thereby providing a new clue to understanding the molecular basis underlying the easy conversion of SSCs to ESCs.
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, No. 1 Boda Road, Yuhua Area, Chenggong District, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China ; Kunming Biomed International and National Engineering Research Center of Biomedicine and Animal Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, No. 1 Boda Road, Yuhua Area, Chenggong District, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, No. 1 Boda Road, Yuhua Area, Chenggong District, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ; Kunming Biomed International and National Engineering Research Center of Biomedicine and Animal Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
authors.forename: Weizhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs