Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) regulates target mRNA stabilization in the mouse testis

Abstract

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is an RNA-binding protein that is expressed in normal testis and down-regulated after heat stress. Recent studies suggest that CIRP contributes to male fertility problems but the mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the likely mechanism of CIRP in reproduction. Based on the RNA-Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation-Microarray (Chip) Profiling (RIP-Chip) and biotin pull-down assays, we found that the mRNAs binding with CIRP in testis were mostly associated with translation regulator activity, antioxidant activity, envelope and reproduction, including important mRNAs related to male infertility. We also discovered that (Un)(n ≥2) was the possible core recognition sequence, and the binding mRNAs increased their stabilization. Our results improve our understanding of the mechanism by which heat stress causes male infertility.