A novel class of small RNAs in mouse spermatogenic cells

TLDR

Small noncoding RNAs such as siRNAs and miRNAs, about 21 nucleotides long, regulate gene expression at transcriptional and post‑transcriptional levels across diverse organisms. The study aims to identify a novel class of small RNAs in mouse male germ cells, termed piwi‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs). piRNAs associate with the spermatogenesis‑specific PIWI protein MIWI and require MIWI for their biogenesis and/or stability. piRNAs are ~30 nt long, expressed mainly in spermatids during spermatogenesis, and a subset associates with polysomes, suggesting a role in translational regulation.

Abstract

Small noncoding RNAs, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and micro RNAs (miRNAs) of ∼21 nucleotides (nt) in length, have emerged as potent regulators of gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in diverse organisms. Here we report the identification of a novel class of small RNAs in the mouse male germline termed piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). piRNAs are ∼30 nt in length. They are expressed during spermatogenesis, mostly in spermatids. piRNAs are associated with MIWI, a spermatogenesis-specific PIWI subfamily member of the Argonaute protein family, and depend on MIWI for their biogenesis and/or stability. Furthermore, a subpopulation of piRNAs are associated with polysomes, suggesting their potential role in translational regulation.