Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...

RNA Interference

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...

RNA Interference

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...

Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)

Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Crosstalk between and developmental dynamics of Caenorhabditis elegans Argonaute proteins.

Genetics·2026

Same author

Tdrd6a and Tdrd6b are required together for germ plasm formation.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2026

Same author

SLBP-independent control of maternal histone mRNA.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

SOS: RNA-processing mechanism rescues genes from invasive DNA.

Nature·2025

Same author

Multi-scale simulations of MUT-16 scaffold protein phase separation and client recognition.

Biophysical journal·2025

Same author

Meioc-Piwil1 complexes regulate rRNA transcription for differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells.

eLife·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Published on: May 25, 2015

A dead end for microRNAs.

René F Ketting¹

¹Hubrecht Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, Netherlands. ketting@niob.knaw.nl

|December 28, 2007

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Dead end (Dnd1) protein is crucial for germ cell survival and preventing tumors. New research shows Dnd1 works by blocking microRNA silencing of messenger RNAs, ensuring gene expression.

More Related Videos

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Published on: May 25, 2015

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Molecular biology
Cancer research

Background:

Dead end (Dnd1) is an essential RNA-binding protein.
Dnd1 plays a vital role in maintaining germ-cell viability.
Dnd1 is known to suppress germ-cell tumor formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which Dnd1 exerts its functions.
To investigate the relationship between Dnd1 and microRNA-mediated gene silencing.
To understand how Dnd1 counteracts microRNA activity in germ cells.

Main Methods:

The study likely involved molecular biology techniques to assess RNA-protein interactions.
Experiments may have focused on analyzing mRNA and microRNA expression levels.
Investigating the impact of Dnd1 on microRNA targets was probably a key method.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests Dnd1 directly interferes with microRNA-mediated silencing of mRNAs.
Dnd1 appears to protect specific mRNAs from degradation or translational repression by microRNAs.
This counteraction mechanism is proposed to underlie Dnd1's role in germ-cell viability and tumor suppression.

Conclusions:

Dnd1's function in germ cells is mediated, at least in part, by antagonizing microRNA silencing.
This mechanism explains how Dnd1 supports germ-cell development and prevents tumorigenesis.
The findings provide new insights into post-transcriptional gene regulation in germline development.