Abstract
BackgroundMicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and thus play important roles in mammalian development. However, the comprehensive lists of microRNAs, as well as, molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression during gamete and embryo development are poorly defined. The objectives of this study were to determine microRNAs in bull sperm and predict their functions.MethodsTo accomplish our objectives we isolated miRNAs from sperm of high and low fertility bulls, conducted microRNA microarray experiments and validated expression of a panel of microRNAs using real time RT-PCR. Bioinformatic approaches were carried out to identify regulated targets.ResultsWe demonstrated that an abundance of microRNAs were present in bovine spermatozoa, however, only seven were differentially expressed; hsa-aga-3155, -8197, -6727, -11796, -14189, -6125, -13659. The abundance of miRNAs in the spermatozoa and the differential expression in sperm from high vs. low fertility bulls suggests that the miRNAs possibly play important functions in the regulating mechanisms of bovine spermatozoa.ConclusionIdentification of specific microRNAs expressed in spermatozoa of bulls with different fertility phenotypes will help better understand mammalian gametogenesis and early development.
Highlights
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play important roles in mammalian development
We asked: What are the microRNAs that are present in the mature male gamete? What does their presence in the spermatozoa mean? What roles do these miRNAs play in fertilization, egg activation, early and later development? Answers to these fundamental questions remain unknown at the present
The primary focus of this study is to identify miRNAs expressed in bovine spermatozoa bulls with differing fertility potential
Summary
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play important roles in mammalian development. The comprehensive lists of microRNAs, as well as, molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression during gamete and embryo development are poorly defined. Fertilization is the most important factor controlling mammalian reproduction in which a developmentally competent spermatozoon fertilizes the egg and sets the stage for egg activation and embryo development. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression of messenger RNA which are abundant in bull spermatozoa [2]. What roles do these miRNAs play in fertilization, egg activation, early and later development? MiRNAs are among the newly recognized factors associated with important post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Thereby, the spatial and temporal expression and even the function of individual genes can be defined
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