SAM68 is involved in the miRNA pathway in male germ cells.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Total extract from secondary spermatocytes were immunoprecipitated with an anti-SAM68 antibody and analysed in Western blot with anti-DICER and anti-Sam68 antibodies. (<b>B</b>) Cellular extracts from secondary spermatocytes (II sp.cytes) were immunoprecipitated with an anti-DROSHA antibody and detected with anti-DROSHA, anti-SAM68 and anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies. (<b>C</b>) Western blot analysis of co-immunoprecipitation performed in the presence of RNase in the cell extract. (<b>D</b>) Schematic representation of the microRNAs differentially expressed in the indicated <i>Sam68</i> knockout germ cells. In green are indicated the down-regulated microRNAs, in red the up-regulated ones. The immunofluorescence images show the localization of SAM68 in the corresponding wild type germ cells. (<b>E</b>) Real Time PCR analysis of miR-720, miR-142-3p and miR-29b in RNA purified from round spermatids of <i>Sam68</i> wild-type (black) or knockout (grey) mice. The values were normalized against U6 snRNA and expressed as fold increase with respect to the value of wild type cells.