MicroRNA Biogenesis Is Required for Mouse Primordial Germ Cell Development and Spermatogenesis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001738
• Publication Date: 2008-03-04T22:57:27Z
• Authors: Katsuhiko Hayashi; Susana M. Chuva d...; Masahiro Kaneda; Fuchou Tang; Petra Hajkova; Kaiqin Lao; Donal O'Carroll; Partha P. Das; Alexander Tarakho...; Eric A. Miska; M. Azim Surani
• Keywords: Dicer; Piwi-interacting RNA

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing, which involved in multiple developmental processes many organisms. Apart from miRNAs, mouse germ cells express another type small RNA, piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Although it has been clear that piRNAs play a role repression retrotransposons during spermatogenesis, the function miRNA unclear.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn this study, we first revealed expression pattern miRNAs by using real-time PCR-based 220-plex profiling method. During development cells, miR-17-92 cluster, is thought to promote cell cycling, ES cell-specific cluster encoding miR-290 -295 (miR-290-295 cluster) were highly expressed primordial (PGCs) spermatogonia. A set was developmentally regulated. We next analysed biogenesis conditional Dicer-knockout mice Dicer deleted specifically cells. Dicer-deleted PGCs spermatogonia exhibited poor proliferation. Retrotransposon activity unexpectedly suppressed PGCs, but not affected In testis, spermatogenesis retarded at an early stage when proliferation and/or differentiation. Additionally, Argonaute2-deficient mice. contrast Dicer-deficient testis indistinguishable wild type.Conclusion/SignificanceThese results illustrate important for spermatogonia, dispensable developing Consistently, promoting cycling Furthermore, based on normal independent Argonaute2.