Systematic identification of Y-chromosome gene functions in mouse spermatogenesis.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39847625.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.ads6495 and PMC identifier 7617377.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The mammalian Y chromosome is essential for male fertility, but which Y genes regulate spermatogenesis is unresolved. We addressed this by generating 13 Y-deletant mouse models. In <i>Eif2s3y</i>, <i>Uty</i>, and <i>Zfy2</i> deletants, spermatogenesis was impaired. We found that <i>Uty</i> regulates spermatogonial proliferation, revealed a role for <i>Zfy2</i> in promoting meiotic sex chromosome pairing, and uncovered unexpected effects of Y genes on the somatic testis transcriptome. In the remaining single Y-gene deletants, spermatogenesis appeared unperturbed, but testis transcription was still altered. Multigene deletions, including a human-infertility AZFa model, exhibited phenotypes absent in single Y deletants. Thus, Y genes may regulate spermatogenesis even if they show no phenotypes when deleted individually. This study advances our knowledge of Y evolution and infertility and provides a resource to dissect Y-gene functions in other tissues.
Medical subject headings
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Genes, Y-Linked
- Spermatogenesis
- Transcription Factors
- Y Chromosome
- Proteins
- Minor Histocompatibility Antigens