非编码RNA在精子发生中的功能

The Function of Noncoding RNAs in Spermatogenesis

人类基因组约1%～2%的基因编码蛋白质,剩余98%的编码产物被称为非编码RNA(noncoding RNAs,ncRNAs)。NcRNAs在很多生命活动中都起作用,也参与调控精子发生。NcRNAs能够在转录水平及转录后水平调控基因表达,其以RNA形式在基因印迹、细胞凋亡、肿瘤发生、表观遗传修饰等生理病理过程中发挥作用。精子在睾丸中产生经历着一个漫长而复杂的变化,从精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cell,SSC)经过有丝分裂、减数分裂直到形成带有尾巴的成熟精子,这一过程除了受到激素和转录因子的调控,ncRNAs也在精子发生中发挥作用。NcRNAs可以调控SSC自我更新和分化,参与减数分裂等过程,并且在精子细胞中也有表达。本文从3类ncRNAs在精子发生不同阶段所进行的调控作用进行综述。

There are about 1%-2% genomic DNAs encoding proteins in the human genome, and the coding products of the remaining 98% genomic DNAs are called noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). NcRNAs play roles in many life activities including spermatogenesis. NcRNAs can regulate the gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, in which ncRNAs participate in physiological and pathological processes such as gene imprinting, apoptosis, tumorigenesis and epigenetic modification. Spermatogenesis undergoes a long and complex change, from spermatogonial stem cells(SSC) to spermatozoa, which is regulated by multiple hormones and transcription factors. It has been found that ncRNAs also play some roles in spermatogenesis. NcRNAs can regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of SSC and participate in meiosis and other processes. NcRNAs are also expressed in spermatozoa. In this review, three kinds of ncRNAs and their effects in different stages of spermatogenesis were summarized.