Golden hamster piRNAs are essential for early development and establishment of spermatogonia [hamster_testis.RNA_seq]

PIWI-associated RNAs (piRNAs) support germline by suppressing retrotransposons and genes. In mice, piRNAs are essential for spermatogenesis but not oogenesis. To test how this applies to other mammals, we deleted Mov10l1 helicase in golden hamsters whose piRNA pathway configuration is closer to other mammals than that of mice. Mov10l1–/– male hamsters showed impaired establishment of spermatogonia accompanied by transcriptome dysregulation and surge of MYSERV retrotransposon expression. The rare viable spermatogenic cells showed meiotic failure phenotype like Mov10l1–/– mice. Female Mov10l1–/–hamsters were sterile due to post-meiotic loss of developmental competence in zygotes. Unique phenotypes of Mov10l1–/– hamsters demonstrate adaptive nature of piRNA-mediated control of genes and retrotransposons, which enables confronting emerging genomic threats or acquiring new physiological roles. Overall design: Bulk long RNA-seq of 21 golden hamster testis samples in five different ages: - 0dpp: 2x WT, 2X Mov10l1 KO - 9dpp: 3x WT, 2x Mov10l1 KO - 13dpp: 2x WT, 2x Mov10l1 KO - 21dpp: 2x WT, 2x Mov10l1 KO - adult: 2x WT, 2x Mov10l1 KO