MicroRNA Regulation in Male Germ Cell Development
Summary
MicroRNAs constitute an essential layer of post-transcriptional regulation during male germ cell development, orchestrating the transition from primordial germ cell to mature spermatozoa. These ~22 nucleotide small RNAs are generated via sequential cleavage by the Drosha and Dicer complexes, before incorporation into Argonaute-containing effector complexes that mediate target mRNA repression. Cell- and stage-specific microRNA expression profiles coincide with key mitotic and meiotic events, guiding spermatogonial proliferation, meiotic progression and spermiogenesis. The dynamic modulation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) further influences microRNA biogenesis and stability, reinforcing precise temporal control over gene expression. Disruption of microRNA processing impairs germ cell proliferation and differentiation, leading to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and infertility. Beyond intrinsic developmental roles, sperm-borne microRNAs serve as biomarkers of semen quality and reproductive outcome, with potential applications in assisted reproduction. This global regulatory network underscores the importance of microRNA pathways for genomic integrity, epigenetic inheritance and male fertility, and highlights novel targets for diagnosing and treating male factor infertility.
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MicroRNA Regulation in Male Germ Cell Development publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna regulation in male germ cell development across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
microRNA: Small non-coding RNA molecules (~22 nucleotides) that regulate gene expression through mRNA degradation or translational repression.
Spermatogenesis: The developmental process in which male germ cells undergo mitotic and meiotic divisions followed by morphological differentiation into spermatozoa.
Primordial germ cell: Embryonic progenitors of spermatogonia that migrate to the gonads and initiate the germ cell lineage.
Dicer: An RNase III enzyme that processes precursor microRNAs into mature microRNAs essential for post-transcriptional gene regulation.
N6-methyladenosine (m6A): A reversible RNA modification that influences microRNA biogenesis and target recognition, modulating stability and function.
References
- Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Sperm-Borne miRNAs: Molecular Biomarkers of Embryo Development?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- The roles of microRNAs in regulation of mammalian spermatogenesis. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology (2017).
- MicroRNA Biogenesis Is Required for Mouse Primordial Germ Cell Development and Spermatogenesis. PLOS ONE (2008).
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