A small non-coding RNA containing SINE/B1 motif functions in meiotic metaphase germ cells during spermatogenesis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26650129
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Genetics/Chromosome dynamics
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Nose Toshiaki 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 研究員 (70183902)
• Research Collaborator: 中島 龍介 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 博士課程4年
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 非コードRNA / 精子形成 / 減数分裂

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Transcripts derived from a small subset of SINEs have been known to be expressed during spermatogenesis, whereas their functions remain unknown. We have identified a non-coding RNA, R53, which starts to express shortly after germ cell induction from ES cells in vitro. The mature product of R53 is ca. 80 base-RNA containing a SINE/B1 motif. Surprisingly, R53 RNA shows an unique accumulation on the pairing chromosomes in meiotic cells at the MI/II-meiotic stage.
To know the function of R53 RNA, we examined knock-down effect on spermatogenesis by micro-injection of lenti-virus expressing R53 shRNA into testis tubules in an organ-culture. When testes of Acrosin-GFP tg mice were used as recipients and cultured for 2-3 weeks, differentiation of GFP-positive spermatids was significantly inhibited by R53 knock-down, suggesting that a specific SINE/B1-derived small RNA plays a critical role for regulating meiotic cell division and/or post-meiotic gene expression.

Free Research Field

発生生物学