PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) support the germline by suppressing retrotransposons. Studies of the pathway in mice have strongly shaped the view that mammalian piRNAs are essential for male but not for female fertility. Here, we report that the role of the piRNA pathway substantially differs in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the piRNA pathway setup of which more closely resembles that of other mammals, including humans. The loss of the Mov10l1 RNA helicase-an essential piRNA biogenesis factor-leads to striking phenotypes in both sexes. In contrast to mice, female Mov10l1-/- hamsters are sterile because their oocytes do not sustain zygotic development. Furthermore, Mov10l1-/- male hamsters have impaired establishment of spermatogonia accompanied by transcriptome dysregulation and an expression surge of a young retrotransposon subfamily. Our results show that the mammalian piRNA pathway has essential roles in both sexes and its adaptive nature allows it to manage emerging genomic threats and acquire new critical roles in the germline.
- MeSH
- křečci praví MeSH
- křeček rodu Mesocricetus metabolismus MeSH
- malá interferující RNA genetika MeSH
- oocyty metabolismus patologie MeSH
- retroelementy fyziologie MeSH
- RNA-helikasy genetika MeSH
- spermatogeneze genetika fyziologie MeSH
- spermatogonie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- testis metabolismus MeSH
- umlčování genů fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- křečci praví MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
