The role of the RNA-binding protein, Musashi-1, in murine spermatogonial stem cell maintenance

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is the process whereby diploid stem cells differentiate and undergo meiosis followed by a series of complex transformations to become mature haploid spermatozoa. Increasingly post transcriptional controls have been recognized as important contributors to germ cell development. In particular, RNA binding proteins have significant roles in the process of germ cell differentiation.Musashi-1 (Msi-1), a translational repressor, is a mammalian homologue of Drosophila Musashi (dMsi) that is both expressed and required in testicular spermatogonial stem cells for maintenance of spermatogonial stem cell fate. Msi-1, which exerts its effect through tandem RNA recognition motifs, is deve..