AUTHOR=Zhao Jun , Ma Wenmin , Zhong Yucheng , Deng Hao , Zhou Bingyu , Wu Yaqin , Yang Meiqiong , Li Huan 

TITLE=Transcriptional Inhibition of lncRNA gadd7 by CRISPR/dCas9-KRAB Protects Spermatocyte Viability

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2021.652392

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2021.652392

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>Our previous study found that lncRNA gadd7 was up-regulated in the semen of varicocele patients, and could promote the apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes and inhibit their proliferation. Therefore, we further explored whether down-regulation of Gadd seven expression could protect the viability of spermatocytes. Here we designed specific sgRNAs targeting the ORF region of gadd7, and constructed a CRISPR-dCas9-KRAB system that effectively inhibits gadd7 at the transcriptional level. The CRISPRi system can effectively prevent the apoptosis of spermatocytes and enhance their proliferation, which is expected to provide a potentially effective molecular intervention method for the treatment of male infertility caused by varicocele.</p>