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Zinc-finger Nuclease Enhanced Gene Targeting in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: August 23, 2014
Two modes of targeting transposable elements by piRNA pathway in human testis
Ildar Gainetdinov1, Yulia Skvortsova2, Sofia Kondratieva2
1Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia ildargv@gmail.com.
Human germline control of transposable elements (TEs) involves two piRNA production modes. Cluster-independent piRNAs target young TEs, while cluster-derived piRNAs target older TEs in postnatal spermatogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- PIWI proteins and piRNAs are crucial for germline transposable element (TE) silencing.
- Understanding the precise mechanisms of TE control in human spermatogenesis is vital for reproductive health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the distinct modes of piRNA production and TE targeting in human spermatogenesis.
- To investigate the origins and characteristics of piRNAs derived from pachytene clusters.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of piRNA populations targeting various TE families.
- Investigation of piRNA production independent of and dependent on piRNA clusters.
- Examination of gene transcription and epigenetic features of piRNA cluster precursors.
Main Results:
- Two distinct piRNA production modes identified: cluster-independent targeting young TEs (prenatal/postnatal) and cluster-derived targeting older TEs (postnatal).
- Converging transcription of antisense genes identified as a source for genic prepachytene piRNA clusters.
- Pachytene piRNAs originate from specific long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) with testis-exclusive expression and unique epigenetic marks.
Conclusions:
- Human TE control in the germline is achieved through a dual piRNA production strategy.
- PiRNA clusters and cluster-independent pathways provide comprehensive TE silencing throughout spermatogenesis.
- Specific lincRNAs are key precursors for pachytene piRNAs, highlighting their specialized role in TE regulation.
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