Male gonad-enriched microRNAs function to control sperm production inC. elegans

Abstract

Germ cell development and gamete production in animals require small RNA pathways. While studies indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) are necessary for normal sperm production and function, the specific roles for individual miRNAs are largely unknown. Here, we use small RNA sequencing of dissected gonads and functional analysis of new loss of function alleles to identify functions for miRNAs in the control of fecundity and sperm production inCaenorhabditis elegansmales and hermaphrodites. We describe a set of 29 male gonad-enriched miRNAs and identify a set of 3 individual miRNAs (mir-58.1, mir-83,andmir-235)and a miRNA cluster (mir-4807-4810.1)that are required for optimal sperm production at 20C and 5 additional miRNAs (mir-49, mir-57, mir-261,andmir-357/358) that are required for sperm production at 25C. We observed defects in meiotic progression inmir-58.1, mir-83, mir-235,andmir-4807-4810.1mutants that may contribute to the reduced number of sperm. Further, analysis of multiple mutants of these miRNAs suggested complex genetic interactions between these miRNAs for sperm production. This study provides insights on the regulatory roles of miRNAs that promote optimal sperm production and fecundity in males and hermaphrodites.