A novel class of small RNAs bind to MILI protein in mouse testes Journal Article
| Authors: | Aravin, A.; Gaidatzis, D.; Pfeffer, S.; Lagos-Quintana, M.; Landgraf, P.; Iovino, N.; Morris, P.; Brownstein, M. J.; Kuramochi-Miyagawa, S.; Nakano, T.; Chien, M.; Russo, J. J.; Ju, J.; Sheridan, R.; Sander, C.; Zavolan, M.; Tuschl, T. |
| Article Title: | A novel class of small RNAs bind to MILI protein in mouse testes |
| Abstract: | Small RNAs bound to Argonaute proteins recognize partially or fully complementary nucleic acid targets in diverse gene-silencing processes. A subgroup of the Argonaute proteinsg-known as the 'Piwi familyg' -is required for germ- and stem-cell development in invertebrates, and two Piwi membersg-MILI and MIWI-are essential for spermatogenesis in mouse. Here we describe a new class of small RNAs that bind to MILI in mouse male germ cells, where they accumulate at the onset of meiosis. The sequences of the over 1,000 identified unique molecules share a strong preference for a 5′ uridine, but otherwise cannot be readily classified into sequence families. Genomic mapping of these small RNAs reveals a limited number of clusters, suggesting that these RNAs are processed from long primary transcripts. The small RNAs are 26-31 nucleotides (nt) in length-clearly distinct from the 21-23 nt of microRNAs (miRNAs) or short interfering RNAs (siRNAs)-and we refer to them as 'Piwi-interacting RNAs' or piRNAs. Orthologous human chromosomal regions also give rise to small RNAs with the characteristics of piRNAs, but the cloned sequences are distinct. The identification of this new class of small RNAs provides an important starting point to determine the molecular function of Piwi proteins in mammalian spermatogenesis. © 2006 Nature Publishing Group. |
| Keywords: | unclassified drug; sequence analysis; nonhuman; protein function; proteins; animal cell; chromosome; mouse; meiosis; mammalia; animals; mice; microrna; germ cell; protein; small interfering rna; mice, inbred c57bl; time factors; rna; germ cells; gene mapping; genetic engineering; cell culture; rodent; animals, newborn; molecular biology; micrornas; testis; piwi interacting rna; multigene family; nucleotide; invertebrata; protein rna binding; cloning; piwi protein; rna analysis; spermatogenesis; mili protein |
| Journal Title: | Nature |
| Volume: | 442 |
| Issue: | 7099 |
| ISSN: | 0028-0836 |
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
| Date Published: | 2006-07-13 |
| Start Page: | 203 |
| End Page: | 207 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1038/nature04916 |
| PUBMED: | 16751777 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 372" - "Export Date: 4 June 2012" - "CODEN: NATUA" - "Source: Scopus" |
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