BACKGROUND: There has been substantial interest in assessing whether RNAs (mRNAs and sncRNAs, i.e. small non-coding) delivered from mammalian spermatozoa play a functional role in early embryo development. While the cadre of spermatozoal mRNAs has been characterized, comparatively little is known about the distribution or function of the estimated 24,000 sncRNAs within each normal human spermatozoon. METHODS: RNAs of <200 bases in length were isolated from the ejaculates from three donors of proved fertility. RNAs of 18-30 nucleotides in length were then used to construct small RNA Digital Gene Expression libraries for Next Generation Sequencing. Known sncRNAs that uniquely mapped to a single location in the human genome were identified. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of multiple classes of small RNAs in human spermatozoa. The primary classes resolved included microRNA (miRNAs) (≈ 7%), Piwi-interacting piRNAs (≈ 17%), repeat-associated small RNAs (≈ 65%). A minor subset of short RNAs within the transcription start site/promoter fraction (≈ 11%) frames the histone promoter-associated regions enriched in genes of early embryonic development. These have been termed quiescent RNAs. CONCLUSIONS: A complex population of male derived sncRNAs that are available for delivery upon fertilization was revealed. Sperm miRNA-targeted enrichment in the human oocyte is consistent with their role as modifiers of early post-fertilization. The relative abundance of piRNAs and repeat-associated RNAs suggests that they may assume a role in confrontation and consolidation. This may ensure the compatibility of the genomes at fertilization.
BACKGROUND: There has been substantial interest in assessing whether RNAs (mRNAs and sncRNAs, i.e. small non-coding) delivered from mammalian spermatozoa play a functional role in early embryo development. While the cadre of spermatozoal mRNAs has been characterized, comparatively little is known about the distribution or function of the estimated 24,000 sncRNAs within each normal human spermatozoon. METHODS: RNAs of <200 bases in length were isolated from the ejaculates from three donors of proved fertility. RNAs of 18-30 nucleotides in length were then used to construct small RNA Digital Gene Expression libraries for Next Generation Sequencing. Known sncRNAs that uniquely mapped to a single location in the human genome were identified. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of multiple classes of small RNAs in human spermatozoa. The primary classes resolved included microRNA (miRNAs) (≈ 7%), Piwi-interacting piRNAs (≈ 17%), repeat-associated small RNAs (≈ 65%). A minor subset of short RNAs within the transcription start site/promoter fraction (≈ 11%) frames the histone promoter-associated regions enriched in genes of early embryonic development. These have been termed quiescent RNAs. CONCLUSIONS: A complex population of male derived sncRNAs that are available for delivery upon fertilization was revealed. Sperm miRNA-targeted enrichment in the human oocyte is consistent with their role as modifiers of early post-fertilization. The relative abundance of piRNAs and repeat-associated RNAs suggests that they may assume a role in confrontation and consolidation. This may ensure the compatibility of the genomes at fertilization.
Authors: Fuchou Tang; Masahiro Kaneda; Dónal O'Carroll; Petra Hajkova; Sheila C Barton; Y Andrew Sun; Caroline Lee; Alexander Tarakhovsky; Kaiqin Lao; M Azim Surani Journal: Genes Dev Date: 2007-03-15 Impact factor: 11.361
Authors: Jun Ma; Matyas Flemr; Paula Stein; Philipp Berninger; Radek Malik; Mihaela Zavolan; Petr Svoboda; Richard M Schultz Journal: Curr Biol Date: 2010-01-28 Impact factor: 10.834
Authors: Pablo Landgraf; Mirabela Rusu; Robert Sheridan; Alain Sewer; Nicola Iovino; Alexei Aravin; Sébastien Pfeffer; Amanda Rice; Alice O Kamphorst; Markus Landthaler; Carolina Lin; Nicholas D Socci; Leandro Hermida; Valerio Fulci; Sabina Chiaretti; Robin Foà; Julia Schliwka; Uta Fuchs; Astrid Novosel; Roman-Ulrich Müller; Bernhard Schermer; Ute Bissels; Jason Inman; Quang Phan; Minchen Chien; David B Weir; Ruchi Choksi; Gabriella De Vita; Daniela Frezzetti; Hans-Ingo Trompeter; Veit Hornung; Grace Teng; Gunther Hartmann; Miklos Palkovits; Roberto Di Lauro; Peter Wernet; Giuseppe Macino; Charles E Rogler; James W Nagle; Jingyue Ju; F Nina Papavasiliou; Thomas Benzing; Peter Lichter; Wayne Tam; Michael J Brownstein; Andreas Bosio; Arndt Borkhardt; James J Russo; Chris Sander; Mihaela Zavolan; Thomas Tuschl Journal: Cell Date: 2007-06-29 Impact factor: 41.582
Authors: Pauline A Fujita; Brooke Rhead; Ann S Zweig; Angie S Hinrichs; Donna Karolchik; Melissa S Cline; Mary Goldman; Galt P Barber; Hiram Clawson; Antonio Coelho; Mark Diekhans; Timothy R Dreszer; Belinda M Giardine; Rachel A Harte; Jennifer Hillman-Jackson; Fan Hsu; Vanessa Kirkup; Robert M Kuhn; Katrina Learned; Chin H Li; Laurence R Meyer; Andy Pohl; Brian J Raney; Kate R Rosenbloom; Kayla E Smith; David Haussler; W James Kent Journal: Nucleic Acids Res Date: 2010-10-18 Impact factor: 16.971
Authors: Meritxell Jodar; Edward Sendler; Sergey I Moskovtsev; Clifford L Librach; Robert Goodrich; Sonja Swanson; Russ Hauser; Michael P Diamond; Stephen A Krawetz Journal: Sci Transl Med Date: 2015-07-08 Impact factor: 17.956