Translational Control in Spermatogenesis

AbstractTranslational silencing phenomena during spermatogenesis in the two model systemsDrosophilaand mouse are reviewed.Cis-acting sequences were identified in both species that are necessary for translational repression. While inDrosophilathese elements so far have only been found in the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR), in mammals such regions were identified both in the 5′ as well as in the 3′ UTR. In all cases, RNA-binding proteins interact with these regions, yet their specific role in the observed negative regulation of translation has to be established