title: LncRNA, a new component of expanding RNA-protein regulatory network important for animal sperm development.
abstract: Spermatogenesis is one of the fundamental processes of sexual reproduction, present in almost all metazoan animals. Like many other reproductive traits, developmental features and traits of spermatogenesis are under strong selective pressure to change, both at morphological and underlying molecular levels. Yet evidence suggests that some fundamental features of spermatogenesis may be ancient and conserved among metazoan species. Identifying the underlying conserved molecular mechanisms could reveal core components of metazoan spermatogenic machinery and provide novel insight into causes of human infertility. Conserved RNA-binding proteins and their interacting RNA network emerge to be a common theme important for animal sperm development. We review research on the recent addition to the RNA family - Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and its roles in spermatogenesis in the context of the expanding RNA-protein network.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Building Xuehai, B104, 101 Longmian Rd, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 211166, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Northern Jiangsu Province Hospital, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chenwang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Building Xuehai, B104, 101 Longmian Rd, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 211166, China.
authors.forename: Liuze
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Building Xuehai, B104, 101 Longmian Rd, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 211166, China. Electronic address: xuyujun@njmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Eugene Yujun
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
keywords: Conservation; Evolution of reproduction; LncRNA; Noncoding RNA; RNA binding proteins; Spermatogenesis