Aberrant regulation of RNA methylation during spermatogenesis

Abstract

Natural modifications of cellular RNA include various chemical modifications, such as N6‐methyladenosine (m6A), which enable the orderly metabolism and function of RNA structural diversity, thereby affecting gene expression. Spermatogenesis is a complex differentiating developmental process, which includes the proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells, spermatocyte meiosis and sperm maturation. Emerging evidence has shown that RNA methylation can influence RNA splicing, exportation and translation, which are controlled in the male germline in order to ensure coordinated gene expression. In this review, we summarize the typical characteristics of different types of RNA methylation during the process of spermatogenesis. In particular, we emphasize the functions of the RNA methylation effectors during the male germ cell development.

Strategies and Perspectives for UV Resonance Raman Applicability in Clinical Analyses of Human Sperm RNA

“…As already mentioned, the Raman spectra of nucleotides and RNA measured using a 266 nm-radiation source are dominated by a strong fluorescence background that can be reduced by choosing a higher-energy radiation wavelength such as 250 nm. Noteworthily, working at 250 nm represents the best choice in order to enhance also the vibrational modes of adenine as observed from the nucleotides spectra, which is one of the most abundant methylated nucleotides in spermatozoa [ 34 ].…”

Alteration of RNA modification signature in human sperm correlates with sperm motility

“…RNA modifications also play active roles in regulating physiological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis and intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of paternally acquired phenotypes ( Chen et al , 2016b ; Zhang et al , 2019 ). As the most common internal RNA modification in eukaryotic mRNA, N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) has been extensively investigated and shown to play critical roles in spermatogenesis ( Zheng et al , 2013 ; Lin et al , 2017 ; Zhong et al , 2021 ). The deletion of m 6 A writer proteins, such as methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), in mouse germ cells, leads to the loss of m 6 A and the depletion of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) through the m 6 A-dependent translational dysregulation of transcripts required for SSC fate commitment ( Lin et al , 2017 ; Xu et al , 2017 ).…”