长链非编码RNA在哺乳动物精子发生中的功能研究进展

Progresses of Research on the Function of LncRNA Involved in Mammalian Spermatogenesis

长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)一般是指大于200 nt的RNA,位于细胞核内或胞浆中,不参与蛋白质编码,以RNA形式在表观遗传调控、转录调控以及转录后调控等多个层面上调控基因的表达水平。哺乳动物精子发生是一个精细调控的过程,通过雄性生殖细胞分裂和分化形成成熟精子,且精子发生受到不同阶段特异性基因表达的严格调控,而特异性基因表达又受到大量lncRNAs的调控。虽然lncRNA作为一类重要的基因表达调控因子广泛参与各类生物个体发育进程和疾病的发生,但是精子发生相关lncRNAs的报道并不多,且其生物学功能的研究有待进一步深入。因此,本文对lncRNA的起源、作用机制和在精子发生过程中调控作用的研究进展进行了总结分析。

Long non-coding RNA（ lnc RNA） is the functional RNA segment longer than 200 nucleotides,locating in the nucleus or the cytoplasm,with little or no protein-coding capacity. Lnc RNAs can regulate gene expression at epigenetic,transcription and post-transcription level. Spermatogenesis is a well-orchestrated biological process,which is composed of meiotic division of spermatocytes and post-meiotic differentiation of haploid spermatids into mature spermatozoa. This process is strictly modulated by phase-specific gene expression under the regulation of plenty of lnc RNAs. Although lnc RNAs widely participate in various physiological and pathological processes as a new class of important regulatory factors,yet little information is available in the process of spermatogenesis. The identification of spermatogenesis-related lnc RNAs and their biological function research are still remaining unknown. Therefore,this article summarized the recent research progresses on the origin and function mechanism of lnc RNAs as well as their regulatory roles in spermatogenesis.