Unraveling mitochondrial piRNAs in mouse embryonic gonadal cells
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ABSTRACT: Although mitochondria are widely studied organelles, the recent interest in the role of mitochondrial small non-coding RNAs (sncRNA) is providing new functional perspectives in germ cell development and differentiation. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are single-stranded sncRNAs of 20-35 nt generated from the processing of pre-piRNAs longer molecules to be functionally bound to PIWI proteins. Initially ascribed to germ cells, as protectors against transposons, we now know that they are also expressed in somatic cells. In mammals, germ cells differentiate at early stages of embryonic development in the primitive gonads as primordial germ cells (PGCs), initiating divergent pathways in both sexes, accompanied by somatic cells (SCs) of the ovary or testis. Previously, we identified mitochondrial piRNAs (mito-piRNAs) in mouse germ and somatic cells. However, a comparative analysis of mito-piRNAs between PGCs and SCs, between sexes and during early gonadal development has not been performed. We leverage NGS data obtained from PGCs and SCs purified from early differentiating embryonic ovaries and testis from E11.5 to E13.5. Using bioinformatic tools, here we unravel: the origin (from nuclear or mitochondrial genome), the levels of expression, the potential role of mito-piRNAs, as well as their association with genomic regions encoding other sncRNAs (such as tRNAs and rRNAs) and the mitochondrial regulatory region (D-loop). Finally, our results indicate nucleo-mitochondrial communication at both anterograde and retrograde signaling, mediated by mito-piRNAs.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE179299 | GEO | 2021/07/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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