A testis-specific long non-coding RNA, 1700052I22Rik, regulates spermatid chromatin condensation in mice

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), as diverse functional regulators, are abundantly expressed in the testis. However, lncRNAs preferentially or exclusively expressed in the testis remain largely unknown. Here, we report a testis-specific lncRNA, 1700052I22Rik, which exhibits a dynamic expression pattern during spermatogenesis. Our findings demonstrate that knockout of 1700052I22Rik in mice leads to reduced sperm counts and subfertility in males, as well as defective spermatid chromatin condensation. We further elucidate the underlying mechanism by which 1700052I22Rik modulates the translation of protamine 1 (PRM1) through interaction with Y-box binding protein 2 (YBX2). Collectively, our results uncover a crucial role for the testis-specific lncRNA 1700052I22Rik in regulating spermatid chromatin condensation in mice, providing novel insights into the functions of lncRNAs in spermatogenesis and potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Overall design: To investigate 1700052I22Rik function in the regulation of spermatogenesis, we conducted RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of the WT and 1700052I22Rik-KO testes.