DNA methylation-mediated transcription factors regulate &lt;i&gt;Piwil1&lt;/i&gt; expression during chicken spermatogenesis

Wang

et al. 2018

IJMS

Testis development is a vital and tightly regulated process in mammals. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying testis development will benefit the animal reproduction industry. Expression changes in microRNA and messenger RNA in response to dynamic regulation effects have been associated with this process. However, very little is known about the roles of these molecules in yak development. Using whole-genome small RNA and messenger RNA sequencing, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the microRNA–messenger RNA interaction network expression in the testicles of Tianzhu white yaks during three developmental stages. Using Short Time-series Expression Miner analysis we identified 589 differentially expressed microRNAs (DERs) and 3383 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (DEGs) in the three age groups. A total of 93 unique DEGs are primarily involved in reproduction and testis development. Subsequently, four integration networks were constructed according to the DEGs and DERs in three biological processes. Nineteen DEGs were potentially regulated by 60 DERs, of which miR-574 and target gene AURKA played a crucial role in yak testis development and reproduction. The results of this study provide a basis for further exploration of the microRNA–messenger RNA interactions in testis development and reproduction and aid in uncovering the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis in male mammals.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Analysis of MicroRNA–Messenger RNA from White Yak Testis Reveals the Differentially Expressed Molecules Involved in Development and Reproduction

Wang

et al. 2018

IJMS

“…DNA methylation may affect gene expression without changing the DNA sequence and has been found to be closely related with the formation of some complex phenotypic traits202122 and the occurrence and development of various diseases23. Previous studies have suggested that DNA methylation contributes to chicken domestication24, spermatogenesis25, growth development26, the ageing process27, and disease resistance20. Recently, multiple studies have been conducted to identify the genome-wide methylation profiles of economically important animals21222829.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles reveal novel candidate genes associated with meat quality at different age stages in hens

Yan

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Poultry meat quality is associated with breed, age, tissue and other factors. Many previous studies have focused on distinct breeds; however, little is known regarding the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in different age stages, such as DNA methylation. Here, we compared the global DNA methylation profiles between juvenile (20 weeks old) and later laying-period (55 weeks old) hens and identified candidate genes related to the development and meat quality of breast muscle using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. The results showed that the later laying-period hens, which had a higher intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition capacity and water holding capacity (WHC) and less tenderness, exhibited higher global DNA methylation levels than the juvenile hens. A total of 2,714 differentially methylated regions were identified in the present study, which corresponded to 378 differentially methylated genes, mainly affecting muscle development, lipid metabolism, and the ageing process. Hypermethylation of the promoters of the genes ABCA1, COL6A1 and GSTT1L and the resulting transcriptional down-regulation in the later laying-period hens may be the reason for the significant difference in the meat quality between the juvenile and later laying-period hens. These findings contribute to a better understanding of epigenetic regulation in the skeletal muscle development and meat quality of chicken.

“…Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses have uncovered thousands of NRF1-binding sites in somatic cells (23,24), indicating much broader roles for NRF1 than have been originally defined. A recent report demonstrated that NRF1 regulates the expression of piwi during chicken spermatogenesis (25). However, as homologous disruption of NRF1 leads to embryonic lethality between 3.5 and 6.5 dpc (26), its physiologic function and target genes in mammalian postnatal spermatogenesis has not been determined.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

NRF1 coordinates with DNA methylation to regulate spermatogenesis

et al. 2017

Spermatogenesis is a highly coordinated process that requires tightly regulated gene expression programmed by transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers. In this study, we found that nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)-1, a key transcription factor for mitochondrial biogenesis, cooperated with DNA methylation to directly regulate the expression of multiple germ cell-specific genes, including In addition, conditional ablation of NRF1 in gonocytes dramatically down-regulated these germline genes, blocked germ cell proliferation, and subsequently led to male infertility in mice. Our data highlight a precise crosstalk between transcriptional regulation by NRF1 and epigenetic modulation during germ cell development and unequivocally demonstrate a novel role of NRF1 in spermatogenesis.-Wang, J., Tang, C., Wang, Q., Su, J., Ni, T., Yang, W., Wang, Y., Chen, W., Liu, X., Wang, S., Zhang, J., Song, H., Zhu, J., Wang, Y. NRF1 coordinates with DNA methylation to regulate spermatogenesis.