1
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Han C. Gene expression programs in mammalian spermatogenesis. Development 2024; 151:dev202033. [PMID: 38691389 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis, probably the most complex of all cellular developmental processes, is an ideal model both for studying the specific mechanism of gametogenesis and for understanding the basic rules governing all developmental processes, as it entails both cell type-specific and housekeeping molecular processes. Spermatogenesis can be viewed as a mission with many tasks to accomplish, and its success is genetically programmed and ensured by the collaboration of a large number of genes. Here, I present an overview of mammalian spermatogenesis and the mechanisms underlying each step in the process, covering the cellular and molecular activities that occur at each developmental stage and emphasizing their gene regulation in light of recent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunsheng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, 100101 Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
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2
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Feng HW, Zhao Y, Gao YL, Liu DT, Huo LJ. Caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase X is essential for homologous chromosome synapsis and recombination during meiosis of male mouse germ cells. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:165-174. [PMID: 37856231 PMCID: PMC10919424 DOI: 10.4103/aja202343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is the process of producing haploid gametes through a series of complex chromosomal events and the coordinated action of various proteins. The mitochondrial protease complex (ClpXP), which consists of caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase X (ClpX) and caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) and mediates the degradation of misfolded, damaged, and oxidized proteins, is essential for maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. ClpXP has been implicated in meiosis regulation, but its precise role is currently unknown. In this study, we engineered an inducible male germ cell-specific knockout caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase X ( ClpxcKO ) mouse model to investigate the function of ClpX in meiosis. We found that disrupting Clpx in male mice induced germ cell apoptosis and led to an absence of sperm in the epididymis. Specifically, it caused asynapsis of homologous chromosomes and impaired meiotic recombination, resulting in meiotic arrest in the zygotene-to-pachytene transition phase. The loss of ClpX compromised the double-strand break (DSB) repair machinery by markedly reducing the recruitment of DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog 1 (RAD51) to DSB sites. This dysfunction may be due to an insufficient supply of energy from the aberrant mitochondria in ClpxcKO spermatocytes, as discerned by electron microscopy. Furthermore, ubiquitination signals on chromosomes and the expression of oxidative phosphorylation subunits were both significantly attenuated in ClpxcKO spermatocytes. Taken together, we propose that ClpX is essential for maintaining mitochondrial protein homeostasis and ensuring homologous chromosome pairing, synapsis, and recombination in spermatocytes during meiotic prophase I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Wei Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
| | - Yan-Ling Gao
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Dong-Teng Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Reproductive Medicine Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Li-Jun Huo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Kitamura Y, Takahashi K, Maezawa S, Munakata Y, Sakashita A, Kaplan N, Namekawa SH. CTCF-mediated 3D chromatin predetermines the gene expression program in the male germline. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569508. [PMID: 38076840 PMCID: PMC10705413 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a unidirectional differentiation process that generates haploid sperm, but how the gene expression program that directs this process is established is largely unknown. Here we determine the high-resolution 3D chromatin architecture of male germ cells during spermatogenesis and show that CTCF-mediated 3D chromatin predetermines the gene expression program required for spermatogenesis. In undifferentiated spermatogonia, CTCF-mediated chromatin contacts on autosomes pre-establish meiosis-specific super-enhancers (SE). These meiotic SE recruit the master transcription factor A-MYB in meiotic spermatocytes, which strengthens their 3D contacts and instructs a burst of meiotic gene expression. We also find that at the mitosis-to-meiosis transition, the germline-specific Polycomb protein SCML2 resolves chromatin loops that are specific to mitotic spermatogonia. Moreover, SCML2 and A-MYB establish the unique 3D chromatin organization of sex chromosomes during meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. We propose that CTCF-mediated 3D chromatin organization enforces epigenetic priming that directs unidirectional differentiation, thereby determining the cellular identity of the male germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Kitamura
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Kazuki Takahashi
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, 281-8510, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Munakata
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582 Japan
| | - Noam Kaplan
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
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4
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Boston AM, Dwead AM, Al-Mathkour MM, Khazaw K, Zou J, Zhang Q, Wang G, Cinar B. Discordant interactions between YAP1 and polycomb group protein SCML2 determine cell fate. iScience 2023; 26:107964. [PMID: 37810219 PMCID: PMC10558808 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Polycomb group protein SCML2 and the transcriptional cofactor YAP1 regulate diverse cellular biology, including stem cell maintenance, developmental processes, and gene regulation in mammals and flies. However, their molecular and functional interactions are unknown. Here, we show that SCML2 interacts with YAP1, as revealed by immunological assays and mass spectroscopy. We have demonstrated that the steroid hormone androgen regulates the interaction of SCML2 with YAP1 in human tumor cell models. Our proximity ligation assay and GST pulldown showed that SCML2 and YAP1 physically interacted with each other. Silencing SCML2 by RNAi changed the growth behaviors of cells in response to androgen signaling. Mechanistically, this phenomenon is attributed to the interplay between distinct chromatin modifications and transcriptional programs, likely coordinated by the opposing SCML2 and YAP1 activity. These findings suggest that YAP1 and SCML2 cooperate to regulate cell growth, cell survival, and tumor biology downstream of steroid hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava M Boston
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abdulrahman M Dwead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marwah M Al-Mathkour
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kezhan Khazaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jin Zou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Guangdi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Bekir Cinar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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5
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Peng Q, Shi X, Li D, Guo J, Zhang X, Zhang X, Chen Q. SCML2 contributes to tumor cell resistance to DNA damage through regulating p53 and CHK1 stability. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:1849-1867. [PMID: 37353627 PMCID: PMC10307790 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01184-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
SCML2 has been found to be highly expressed in various tumors. However, the extent to which SCML2 is involved in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy is yet to be fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between SCML2 and DNA damage response (DDR). Firstly, DNA damage stabilizes SCML2 through CHK1-mediated phosphorylation at Ser570. Functionally, this increased stability of SCML2 enhances resistance to DNA damage agents in p53-positive, p53-mutant, and p53-negative cells. Notably, SCML2 promotes chemoresistance through distinct mechanisms in p53-positive and p53-negative cancer cells. SCML2 binds to the TRAF domain of USP7, and Ser441 is a critical residue for their interaction. In p53-positive cancer cells, SCML2 competes with p53 for USP7 binding and destabilizes p53, which prevents DNA damage-induced p53 overactivation and increases chemoresistance. In p53-mutant or p53-negative cancer cells, SCML2 promotes CHK1 and p21 stability by inhibiting their ubiquitination, thereby enhancing the resistance to DNA damage agents. Interestingly, we found that SCML2A primarily stabilizes CHK1, while SCML2B regulates the stability of p21. Therefore, we have identified SCML2 as a novel regulator of chemotherapy resistance and uncovered a positive feedback loop between SCML2 and CHK1 after DNA damage, which serves to promote the chemoresistance to DNA damage agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Peng
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xin Shi
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Dingwei Li
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiaqing Zhang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
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Otsuka K, Sakashita A, Maezawa S, Schultz RM, Namekawa SH. KRAB-zinc-finger proteins regulate endogenous retroviruses to sculpt germline transcriptomes and genome evolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.24.546405. [PMID: 37720031 PMCID: PMC10503828 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
As transposable elements (TEs) coevolved with the host genome, the host genome exploited TEs as functional regulatory elements. What remains largely unknown are how the activity of TEs, namely, endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), are regulated and how TEs evolved in the germline. Here we show that KRAB domain-containing zinc-finger proteins (KZFPs), which are highly expressed in mitotically dividing spermatogonia, bind to suppressed ERVs that function following entry into meiosis as active enhancers. These features are observed for independently evolved KZFPs and ERVs in mice and humans, i.e., are evolutionarily conserved in mammals. Further, we show that meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) antagonizes the coevolution of KZFPs and ERVs in mammals. Our study uncovers a mechanism by which KZFPs regulate ERVs to sculpt germline transcriptomes. We propose that epigenetic programming in the mammalian germline during the mitosis-to-meiosis transition facilitates coevolution of KZFPs and TEs on autosomes and is antagonized by MSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Otsuka
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - So Maezawa
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan
| | - Richard M. Schultz
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
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7
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Odroniec A, Olszewska M, Kurpisz M. Epigenetic markers in the embryonal germ cell development and spermatogenesis. Basic Clin Androl 2023; 33:6. [PMID: 36814207 PMCID: PMC9948345 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-022-00179-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is the process of generation of male reproductive cells from spermatogonial stem cells in the seminiferous epithelium of the testis. During spermatogenesis, key spermatogenic events such as stem cell self-renewal and commitment to meiosis, meiotic recombination, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, followed by cellular and chromatin remodeling of elongating spermatids occur, leading to sperm cell production. All the mentioned events are at least partially controlled by the epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones. Additionally, during embryonal development in primordial germ cells, global epigenetic reprogramming of DNA occurs. In this review, we summarized the most important epigenetic modifications in the particular stages of germ cell development, in DNA and histone proteins, starting from primordial germ cells, during embryonal development, and ending with histone-to-protamine transition during spermiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amadeusz Odroniec
- grid.413454.30000 0001 1958 0162Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60–479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Olszewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Maciej Kurpisz
- grid.413454.30000 0001 1958 0162Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60–479 Poznan, Poland
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8
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Sakashita A, Takeuchi C, Maezawa S, Namekawa SH. Bioinformatics Pipelines for Identification of Super-Enhancers and 3D Chromatin Contacts. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2577:123-146. [PMID: 36173570 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2724-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Precise regulation of gene expression is integral in development. Emerging studies have highlighted that super-enhancers (SEs), which are clusters of multiple enhancers, play critical roles in regulating cell type-specific gene expression via 3D chromatin, thereby defining the cellular identities of given cells. Here we provide optimized bioinformatics pipelines to identify SEs and 3D chromatin contacts. Our pipelines encompass the processing of chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data to identify SEs and the processing of genome-wide chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data. We can then infer long-range chromatin contacts between SEs and other genomic regions. This integrative computational approach, which can be applied to CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag, alternative technologies to ChIP-seq, allows us to identify genomic locations of SEs and their 3D genome configuration, whereby multiple SEs act in concert. We show an analysis of mouse spermatogenesis as an example of this application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Sakashita
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Chikara Takeuchi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - So Maezawa
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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9
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Li M. Sex body: A nest of protein mixture. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1165745. [PMID: 37123420 PMCID: PMC10140345 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1165745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During the pachytene stage in mammalian meiosis, the X and Y chromosomes remain largely unsynapsed outside the pseudoautosomal region, while autosomes are fully synapsed. Then, the sex chromosomes are compartmentalized into a "sex body" in the nucleus and are subjected to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). For decades, the formation and functioning of the sex body and MSCI have been subjects worth exploring. Notably, a series of proteins have been reported to be located on the sex body area and inferred to play an essential role in MSCI; however, the proteins that are actually located in this area and how these proteins promote sex body formation and establish MSCI remain unclear. Collectively, the DNA damage response factors, downstream fanconi anemia proteins, and other canonical repressive histone modifications have been reported to be associated with the sex body. Here, this study reviews the factors located on the sex body area and tries to provide new insights into studying this mysterious domain.
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Abe H, Yeh YH, Munakata Y, Ishiguro KI, Andreassen PR, Namekawa SH. Active DNA damage response signaling initiates and maintains meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7212. [PMID: 36443288 PMCID: PMC9705562 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34295-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) is an essential process in the male germline. While genetic experiments have established that the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway directs MSCI, due to limitations to the experimental systems available, mechanisms underlying MSCI remain largely unknown. Here we establish a system to study MSCI ex vivo, based on a short-term culture method, and demonstrate that active DDR signaling is required both to initiate and maintain MSCI via a dynamic and reversible process. DDR-directed MSCI follows two layers of modifications: active DDR-dependent reversible processes and irreversible histone post-translational modifications. Further, the DDR initiates MSCI independent of the downstream repressive histone mark H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), thereby demonstrating that active DDR signaling is the primary mechanism of silencing in MSCI. By unveiling the dynamic nature of MSCI, and its governance by active DDR signals, our study highlights the sex chromosomes as an active signaling hub in meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Abe
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA ,grid.274841.c0000 0001 0660 6749Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811 Japan
| | - Yu-Han Yeh
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Yasuhisa Munakata
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- grid.274841.c0000 0001 0660 6749Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811 Japan
| | - Paul R. Andreassen
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
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11
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Chukrallah LG, Badrinath A, Vittor GG, Snyder EM. ADAD2 regulates heterochromatin in meiotic and post-meiotic male germ cells via translation of MDC1. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259196. [PMID: 35191498 PMCID: PMC8919335 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Male germ cells establish a unique heterochromatin domain, the XY-body, early in meiosis. How this domain is maintained through the end of meiosis and into post-meiotic germ cell differentiation is poorly understood. ADAD2 is a late meiotic male germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein, loss of which leads to post-meiotic germ cell defects. Analysis of ribosome association in Adad2 mouse mutants revealed defective translation of Mdc1, a key regulator of XY-body formation, late in meiosis. As a result, Adad2 mutants show normal establishment but failed maintenance of the XY-body. Observed XY-body defects are concurrent with abnormal autosomal heterochromatin and ultimately lead to severely perturbed post-meiotic germ cell heterochromatin and cell death. These findings highlight the requirement of ADAD2 for Mdc1 translation, the role of MDC1 in maintaining meiotic male germ cell heterochromatin and the importance of late meiotic heterochromatin for normal post-meiotic germ cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aditi Badrinath
- Department of Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Gabrielle G. Vittor
- Department of Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Snyder
- Department of Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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12
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Alavattam KG, Maezawa S, Andreassen PR, Namekawa SH. Meiotic sex chromosome inactivation and the XY body: a phase separation hypothesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 79:18. [PMID: 34971404 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04075-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian male meiosis, the heterologous X and Y chromosomes remain unsynapsed and, as a result, are subject to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). MSCI is required for the successful completion of spermatogenesis. Following the initiation of MSCI, the X and Y chromosomes undergo various epigenetic modifications and are transformed into a nuclear body termed the XY body. Here, we review the mechanisms underlying the initiation of two essential, sequential processes in meiotic prophase I: MSCI and XY-body formation. The initiation of MSCI is directed by the action of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways; downstream of the DDR, unique epigenetic states are established, leading to the formation of the XY body. Accumulating evidence suggests that MSCI and subsequent XY-body formation may be driven by phase separation, a physical process that governs the formation of membraneless organelles and other biomolecular condensates. Thus, here we gather literature-based evidence to explore a phase separation hypothesis for the initiation of MSCI and the formation of the XY body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris G Alavattam
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.,Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.,Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - So Maezawa
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan
| | - Paul R Andreassen
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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13
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Xu W, Zhang Y, Qin D, Gui Y, Wang S, Du G, Yang F, Li L, Yuan S, Wang M, Wu X. Transcription factor-like 5 is a potential DNA/RNA-binding protein essential for maintaining male fertility in mice. J Cell Sci 2021; 135:273810. [PMID: 34931239 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor-like 5 (TCFL5) is a testis-specific protein that contains the basic helix-loop-helix domain, but the in vivo functions of TCFL5 remain unknown. Herein, we generated CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout mice to dissect the function of TCFL5 in mouse testes. Surprisingly, we found that it was difficult to generate homozygous mice with the Tcfl5 deletion since the heterozygous males (Tcfl5+/-) were infertile. We did; however, observe markedly abnormal phenotypes of spermatids and spermatozoa in the testes and epididymides of Tcfl5+/- mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that TCFL5 transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally regulated a set of genes participating in male germ cell development via TCFL5 ChIP-DNA and eCLIP-RNA high-throughput sequencing. We also identified a known RBP, FXR1 as an interacting partner of TCFL5 that may coordinate the transition and localization of TCFL5 in the nucleus. Collectively, we herein report for the first time that Tcfl5 is haploinsufficient in vivo and acts as a dual-function protein that mediates DNA and RNA to regulate spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiya Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yiyun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Dongdong Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yiqian Gui
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Guihua Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Lufan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.,Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Lianyungang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Lianyungang, Jiangsu 222000, China
| | - Xin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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14
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Du L, Wang L, Yang H, Duan J, Lai J, Wu W, Fan S, Zhi X. Sex Comb on Midleg Like-2 Accelerates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Metastasis by Activating Wnt/β-Catenin/EMT Signaling. Yonsei Med J 2021; 62:1073-1082. [PMID: 34816637 PMCID: PMC8612862 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2021.62.12.1073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of sex comb on midleg like-2 (SCML2) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and potentially related mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS SCML2 expression in tumor tissues and cells was analyzed using the TCGA database and/or qRT-PCR. The proliferation of HCC cells was detected by CCK-8, colony formation, and EdU assays. The migration and invasion of HCC cells were detected by transwell and wound healing assays. Apoptosis of HCC cells was determined by flow cytometry. Additionally, qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of SCML2 and Wnt/β-catenin/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling. A xenograft model in mice was established to verify the in vitro findings. RESULTS We found that SCML2 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells and that high expression of SCML2 was correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. SCML2 overexpression promoted proliferation, invasion, and migration and repressed apoptosis of HCC cells. The reverse results were obtained in SCML2-silenced cells. Further, we found that SCML2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin/EMT pathway. SCML2 silencing reduced the protein levels of Wnt3a, β-catenin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail and enhanced E-cadherin protein expression both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION SCML2 silencing inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin/EMT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Du
- No.8 District of Liver Diseases, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Clinical Laboratory, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Physical Therapy, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jianping Duan
- Department of Infectious Disease, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jianming Lai
- Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Wu
- No.8 District of Liver Diseases, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shaohua Fan
- Blood Purification Centre, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhi
- Department of Infectious Disease, Qingdao No. 6 People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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15
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Chen H, Murray E, Sinha A, Laumas A, Li J, Lesman D, Nie X, Hotaling J, Guo J, Cairns BR, Macosko EZ, Cheng CY, Chen F. Dissecting mammalian spermatogenesis using spatial transcriptomics. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109915. [PMID: 34731600 PMCID: PMC8606188 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing has revealed extensive molecular diversity in gene programs governing mammalian spermatogenesis but fails to delineate their dynamics in the native context of seminiferous tubules, the spatially confined functional units of spermatogenesis. Here, we use Slide-seq, a spatial transcriptomics technology, to generate an atlas that captures the spatial gene expression patterns at near-single-cell resolution in the mouse and human testis. Using Slide-seq data, we devise a computational framework that accurately localizes testicular cell types in individual seminiferous tubules. Unbiased analysis systematically identifies spatially patterned genes and gene programs. Combining Slide-seq with targeted in situ RNA sequencing, we demonstrate significant differences in the cellular compositions of spermatogonial microenvironment between mouse and human testes. Finally, a comparison of the spatial atlas generated from the wild-type and diabetic mouse testis reveals a disruption in the spatial cellular organization of seminiferous tubules as a potential mechanism of diabetes-induced male infertility. Chen et al. generate a spatial transcriptome atlas of the mammalian testis at near-single-cell resolution that recapitulates spermatogenesis by accurately localizing testicular cell types and reconstructing tissue structures. The atlas is used to reveal the spatial organization of testicular microenvironment and profile its changes under diabetic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqi Chen
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Evan Murray
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Anubhav Sinha
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Jilong Li
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daniel Lesman
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xichen Nie
- Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jim Hotaling
- Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jingtao Guo
- Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Bradley R Cairns
- Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Evan Z Macosko
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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16
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Abe H, Meduri R, Li Z, Andreassen PR, Namekawa SH. RNF8 is not required for histone-to-protamine exchange in spermiogenesis. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1154-1159. [PMID: 34225362 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While an E3 ubiquitin ligase, RNF8, was initially reported to be required for histone-to-protamine exchange in spermiogenesis, we subsequently demonstrated that RNF8 is not involved in this process. Nevertheless, reflecting a lingering misunderstanding in the field, a growing number of studies have continued to postulate a requirement for RNF8 in the histone-to-protamine exchange. For example, a recent study claimed that a mouse PIWI protein, MIWI, controls RNF8-mediated histone-to-protamine exchange. Here, confirming our earlier conclusions, we show that RNF8 is required neither for the establishment of histone H4K16 acetylation, which is an initial step in histone removal during spermiogenesis, nor for the incorporation of two protamine proteins, PRM1 and PRM2. Thus, whereas RNF8 mediates ubiquitination of H2A on the sex chromosomes in meiosis, during the prior stage of spermatogenesis, our genetic evidence underscores that RNF8 is not involved in histone-to-protamine exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Abe
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA.,Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Rajyalakshmi Meduri
- Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Ziwei Li
- Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Paul R Andreassen
- Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA.,Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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17
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Scovell JM, Bournat JC, Szafran AT, Solis M, Moore J, Rivera A, Chen CH, Zhang J, Wilken N, Seth A, Jorgez CJ. PRSS50 is a testis protease responsible for proper sperm tail formation and function. Development 2021; 148:240271. [PMID: 33913480 DOI: 10.1242/dev.197558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are a major cause of asthenoteratozoospermia. We have identified protease serine 50 (PRSS50) as having a crucial role in sperm development, because Prss50-null mice presented with impaired fertility and sperm tail abnormalities. PRSS50 could also be involved in centrosome function because these mice showed a threefold increase in acephalic sperm (head-tail junction defect), sperm with multiple heads (spermatid division defect) and sperm with multiple tails, including novel two conjoined sperm (complete or partial parts of several flagellum on the same plasma membrane). Our data support that, in the testis, as in tumorigenesis, PRSS50 activates NFκB target genes, such as the centromere protein leucine-rich repeats and WD repeat domain-containing protein 1 (LRWD1), which is required for heterochromatin maintenance. Prss50-null testes have increased IκκB, and reduced LRWD1 and histone expression. Low levels of de-repressed histone markers, such as H3K9me3, in the Prss50-null mouse testis may cause increases in post-meiosis proteins, such as AKAP4, affecting sperm formation. We provide important insights into the complex mechanisms of sperm development, the importance of testis proteases in fertility and a novel mechanism for MMAF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Scovell
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Juan C Bournat
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adam T Szafran
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Minerva Solis
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joshua Moore
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Armando Rivera
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ching H Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jason Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nathan Wilken
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Abhishek Seth
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carolina J Jorgez
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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18
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Kobayashi Y, Tomizawa SI, Ono M, Kuroha K, Minamizawa K, Natsume K, Dizdarević S, Dočkal I, Tanaka H, Kawagoe T, Seki M, Suzuki Y, Ogonuki N, Inoue K, Matoba S, Anastassiadis K, Mizuki N, Ogura A, Ohbo K. Tsga8 is required for spermatid morphogenesis and male fertility in mice. Development 2021; 148:dev.196212. [PMID: 33766931 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, intricate gene expression is coordinately regulated by epigenetic modifiers, which are required for differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) contained among undifferentiated spermatogonia. We have previously found that KMT2B conveys H3K4me3 at bivalent and monovalent promoters in undifferentiated spermatogonia. Because these genes are expressed late in spermatogenesis or during embryogenesis, we expect that many of them are potentially programmed by KMT2B for future expression. Here, we show that one of the genes targeted by KMT2B, Tsga8, plays an essential role in spermatid morphogenesis. Loss of Tsga8 in mice leads to male infertility associated with abnormal chromosomal distribution in round spermatids, malformation of elongating spermatid heads and spermiation failure. Tsga8 depletion leads to dysregulation of thousands of genes, including the X-chromosome genes that are reactivated in spermatids, and insufficient nuclear condensation accompanied by reductions of TNP1 and PRM1, key factors for histone-to-protamine transition. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of spermatids rescued the infertility phenotype, suggesting competency of the spermatid genome for fertilization. Thus, Tsga8 is a KMT2B target that is vitally necessary for spermiogenesis and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kobayashi
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Tomizawa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Michio Ono
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kazushige Kuroha
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Keisuke Minamizawa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Koji Natsume
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Selma Dizdarević
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Ivana Dočkal
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Tanaka
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3298, Japan
| | - Tatsukata Kawagoe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Masahide Seki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8562, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8562, Japan
| | - Narumi Ogonuki
- Bioresource Engineering Division, Bioresource Research Center, RIKEN, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan
| | - Kimiko Inoue
- Bioresource Engineering Division, Bioresource Research Center, RIKEN, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan
| | - Shogo Matoba
- Bioresource Engineering Division, Bioresource Research Center, RIKEN, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan
| | | | - Nobuhisa Mizuki
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Atsuo Ogura
- Bioresource Engineering Division, Bioresource Research Center, RIKEN, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Ohbo
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
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19
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Geisinger A, Rodríguez-Casuriaga R, Benavente R. Transcriptomics of Meiosis in the Male Mouse. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:626020. [PMID: 33748111 PMCID: PMC7973102 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.626020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular studies of meiosis in mammals have been long relegated due to some intrinsic obstacles, namely the impossibility to reproduce the process in vitro, and the difficulty to obtain highly pure isolated cells of the different meiotic stages. In the recent years, some technical advances, from the improvement of flow cytometry sorting protocols to single-cell RNAseq, are enabling to profile the transcriptome and its fluctuations along the meiotic process. In this mini-review we will outline the diverse methodological approaches that have been employed, and some of the main findings that have started to arise from these studies. As for practical reasons most studies have been carried out in males, and mostly using mouse as a model, our focus will be on murine male meiosis, although also including specific comments about humans. Particularly, we will center on the controversy about gene expression during early meiotic prophase; the widespread existing gap between transcription and translation in meiotic cells; the expression patterns and potential roles of meiotic long non-coding RNAs; and the visualization of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation from the RNAseq perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Geisinger
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosana Rodríguez-Casuriaga
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ricardo Benavente
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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20
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Yeh YH, Hu M, Nakagawa T, Sakashita A, Yoshida S, Maezawa S, Namekawa SH. Isolation of Murine Spermatogenic Cells using a Violet-Excited Cell-Permeable DNA Binding Dye. J Vis Exp 2021:10.3791/61666. [PMID: 33522502 PMCID: PMC8260464 DOI: 10.3791/61666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation of meiotic spermatocytes is essential to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying meiosis and spermatogenesis. Although there are established cell isolation protocols using Hoechst 33342 staining in combination with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, it requires cell sorters equipped with an ultraviolet laser. Here we describe a cell isolation protocol using the DyeCycle Violet (DCV) stain, a low cytotoxicity DNA binding dye structurally similar to Hoechst 33342. DCV can be excited by both ultraviolet and violet lasers, which improves the flexibility of equipment choice, including a cell sorter not equipped with an ultraviolet laser. Using this protocol, one can isolate three live-cell subpopulations in meiotic prophase I, including leptotene/zygotene, pachytene, and diplotene spermatocytes, as well as post-meiotic round spermatids. We also describe a protocol to prepare single-cell suspension from mouse testes. Overall, the procedure requires a short time to complete (4-5 hours depending on the number of needed cells), which facilitates many downstream applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Yeh
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
| | - Mengwen Hu
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
| | - Toshinori Nakagawa
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences; Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai)
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
| | - Shosei Yoshida
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences; Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai)
| | - So Maezawa
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University; Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine;
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21
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Yu T, Fan K, Özata DM, Zhang G, Fu Y, Theurkauf WE, Zamore PD, Weng Z. Long first exons and epigenetic marks distinguish conserved pachytene piRNA clusters from other mammalian genes. Nat Commun 2021; 12:73. [PMID: 33397987 PMCID: PMC7782496 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20345-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the male germ cells of placental mammals, 26-30-nt-long PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) emerge when spermatocytes enter the pachytene phase of meiosis. In mice, pachytene piRNAs derive from ~100 discrete autosomal loci that produce canonical RNA polymerase II transcripts. These piRNA clusters bear 5' caps and 3' poly(A) tails, and often contain introns that are removed before nuclear export and processing into piRNAs. What marks pachytene piRNA clusters to produce piRNAs, and what confines their expression to the germline? We report that an unusually long first exon (≥ 10 kb) or a long, unspliced transcript correlates with germline-specific transcription and piRNA production. Our integrative analysis of transcriptome, piRNA, and epigenome datasets across multiple species reveals that a long first exon is an evolutionarily conserved feature of pachytene piRNA clusters. Furthermore, a highly methylated promoter, often containing a low or intermediate level of CG dinucleotides, correlates with germline expression and somatic silencing of pachytene piRNA clusters. Pachytene piRNA precursor transcripts bind THOC1 and THOC2, THO complex subunits known to promote transcriptional elongation and mRNA nuclear export. Together, these features may explain why the major sources of pachytene piRNA clusters specifically generate these unique small RNAs in the male germline of placental mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiong Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Kaili Fan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Deniz M Özata
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Gen Zhang
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Yu Fu
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - William E Theurkauf
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Phillip D Zamore
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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22
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Berruti G. Destruction or Reconstruction: A Subtle Liaison between the Proteolytic and Signaling Role of Protein Ubiquitination in Spermatogenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:215-240. [PMID: 34453739 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is one of the most diverse forms of protein post-translational modification that changes the function of the landscape of substrate proteins in response to stimuli, without the need for "de novo" protein synthesis. Ubiquitination is involved in almost all aspects of eukaryotic cell biology, from the best-studied role in promoting the removal of faulty or unnecessary proteins by the way of the ubiquitin proteasome system and autophagy-lysosome pathway to the recruitment of proteins in specific non-proteolytic signaling pathways, as emerged by the more recent discoveries about the protein signature with peculiar types of ubiquitin chains. Spermatogenesis, on its own, is a complex cellular developmental process in which mitosis, meiosis, and cell differentiation coexist so to result in the continuous formation of haploid spermatozoa. Successful spermatogenesis is thus at the same time a mixed result of the precise expression and correct intracellular destination of structural proteins and enzymes, from one hand, and the fine removal by targeted degradation of unfolded or damaged proteins as well as of obsolete, outlived proteins, from the other hand. In this minireview, I will focus on the importance of the ubiquitin system all over the spermatogenic process, discussing both proteolytic and non-proteolytic functions of protein ubiquitination. Alterations in the ubiquitin system have been in fact implicated in pathologies leading to male infertility. Notwithstanding several aspects of the multifaceted world of the ubiquitin system have been clarified, the physiological meaning of the so-called ubiquitin code remains still partially elusive. The studies reviewed in this chapter provide information that could aid the investigators to pursue new promising discoveries in the understanding of human and animal reproductive potential.
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23
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Endogenous retroviruses drive species-specific germline transcriptomes in mammals. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2020; 27:967-977. [PMID: 32895553 PMCID: PMC8246630 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-020-0487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Gene regulation in the germline ensures the production of high-quality gametes, long-term maintenance of the species, and speciation. Male germline transcriptomes undergo dynamic changes after the mitosis-to-meiosis transition and have been subject to evolutionary divergence among mammals. However, the mechanisms underlying germline regulatory divergence remain undetermined. Here, we show that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) influence species-specific germline transcriptomes. After the mitosis-to-meiosis transition in male mice, specific ERVs function as active enhancers to drive germline genes, including a mouse-specific gene set, and bear binding motifs for critical regulators of spermatogenesis such as A-MYB. This raises the possibility that a genome-wide transposition of ERVs rewired germline gene expression in a species-specific manner. Of note, independently evolved ERVs are associated with the expression of human-specific germline genes, demonstrating the prevalence of ERV-driven mechanisms in mammals. Together, we propose that ERVs fine-tune species-specific transcriptomes in the mammalian germline.
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24
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Maezawa S, Sakashita A, Yukawa M, Chen X, Takahashi K, Alavattam KG, Nakata I, Weirauch MT, Barski A, Namekawa SH. Super-enhancer switching drives a burst in gene expression at the mitosis-to-meiosis transition. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2020; 27:978-988. [PMID: 32895557 PMCID: PMC8690596 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-020-0488-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to bursts in the expression of thousands of germline-specific genes, the testis has the most diverse and complex transcriptome of all organs. By analyzing the male germline of mice, we demonstrate that the genome-wide reorganization of super-enhancers (SEs) drives bursts in germline gene expression after the mitosis-to-meiosis transition. SE reorganization is regulated by two molecular events: the establishment of meiosis-specific SEs via A-MYB (MYBL1), a key transcription factor for germline genes, and the resolution of SEs in mitotically proliferating cells via SCML2, a germline-specific Polycomb protein required for spermatogenesis-specific gene expression. Prior to entry into meiosis, meiotic SEs are preprogrammed in mitotic spermatogonia to ensure the unidirectional differentiation of spermatogenesis. We identify key regulatory factors for both mitotic and meiotic enhancers, revealing a molecular logic for the concurrent activation of mitotic enhancers and suppression of meiotic enhancers in the somatic and/or mitotic proliferation phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA. .,Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. .,Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Yukawa
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kazuki Takahashi
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kris G Alavattam
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Ippo Nakata
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Artem Barski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA. .,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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25
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Crespo M, Damont A, Blanco M, Lastrucci E, Kennani SE, Ialy-Radio C, Khattabi LE, Terrier S, Louwagie M, Kieffer-Jaquinod S, Hesse AM, Bruley C, Chantalat S, Govin J, Fenaille F, Battail C, Cocquet J, Pflieger D. Multi-omic analysis of gametogenesis reveals a novel signature at the promoters and distal enhancers of active genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:4115-4138. [PMID: 32182340 PMCID: PMC7192594 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is tightly controlled by the dynamic modification of histones by chemical groups, the diversity of which has largely expanded over the past decade with the discovery of lysine acylations, catalyzed from acyl-coenzymes A. We investigated the dynamics of lysine acetylation and crotonylation on histones H3 and H4 during mouse spermatogenesis. Lysine crotonylation appeared to be of significant abundance compared to acetylation, particularly on Lys27 of histone H3 (H3K27cr) that accumulates in sperm in a cleaved form of H3. We identified the genomic localization of H3K27cr and studied its effects on transcription compared to the classical active mark H3K27ac at promoters and distal enhancers. The presence of both marks was strongly associated with highest gene expression. Assessment of their co-localization with transcription regulators (SLY, SOX30) and chromatin-binding proteins (BRD4, BRDT, BORIS and CTCF) indicated systematic highest binding when both active marks were present and different selective binding when present alone at chromatin. H3K27cr and H3K27ac finally mark the building of some sperm super-enhancers. This integrated analysis of omics data provides an unprecedented level of understanding of gene expression regulation by H3K27cr in comparison to H3K27ac, and reveals both synergistic and specific actions of each histone modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Crespo
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Inserm, IRIG-BGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Annelaure Damont
- Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse, Laboratoire d'Etude du Métabolisme des Médicaments, CEA, INRA, Université Paris Saclay, MetaboHUB, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Melina Blanco
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Sara El Kennani
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Inserm, IRIG-BGE, 38000 Grenoble, France.,CNRS UMR 5309, Inserm U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Côme Ialy-Radio
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Laila El Khattabi
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Samuel Terrier
- Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse, Laboratoire d'Etude du Métabolisme des Médicaments, CEA, INRA, Université Paris Saclay, MetaboHUB, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Anne-Marie Hesse
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Inserm, IRIG-BGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Sophie Chantalat
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), Institut de Biologie François Jacob, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, CP 5706, 91057 Evry Cedex, France
| | - Jérôme Govin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Inserm, IRIG-BGE, 38000 Grenoble, France.,CNRS UMR 5309, Inserm U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - François Fenaille
- Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse, Laboratoire d'Etude du Métabolisme des Médicaments, CEA, INRA, Université Paris Saclay, MetaboHUB, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christophe Battail
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, INSERM, Biosciences and Biotechnology Institute of Grenoble, Biology of Cancer and Infection UMR_S 1036, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Julie Cocquet
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Delphine Pflieger
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Inserm, IRIG-BGE, 38000 Grenoble, France.,CNRS, IRIG-BGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
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26
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Chioccarelli T, Pierantoni R, Manfrevola F, Porreca V, Fasano S, Chianese R, Cobellis G. Histone Post-Translational Modifications and CircRNAs in Mouse and Human Spermatozoa: Potential Epigenetic Marks to Assess Human Sperm Quality. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9030640. [PMID: 32121034 PMCID: PMC7141194 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9030640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa (SPZ) are motile cells, characterized by a cargo of epigenetic information including histone post-translational modifications (histone PTMs) and non-coding RNAs. Specific histone PTMs are present in developing germ cells, with a key role in spermatogenic events such as self-renewal and commitment of spermatogonia (SPG), meiotic recombination, nuclear condensation in spermatids (SPT). Nuclear condensation is related to chromatin remodeling events and requires a massive histone-to-protamine exchange. After this event a small percentage of chromatin is condensed by histones and SPZ contain nucleoprotamines and a small fraction of nucleohistone chromatin carrying a landascape of histone PTMs. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new class of non-coding RNAs, characterized by a nonlinear back-spliced junction, able to play as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, protein scaffolds and translation templates, have been recently characterized in both human and mouse SPZ. Since their abundance in eukaryote tissues, it is challenging to deepen their biological function, especially in the field of reproduction. Here we review the critical role of histone PTMs in male germ cells and the profile of circRNAs in mouse and human SPZ. Furthermore, we discuss their suggested role as novel epigenetic biomarkers to assess sperm quality and improve artificial insemination procedure.
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27
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Kruger AN, Brogley MA, Huizinga JL, Kidd JM, de Rooij DG, Hu YC, Mueller JL. A Neofunctionalized X-Linked Ampliconic Gene Family Is Essential for Male Fertility and Equal Sex Ratio in Mice. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3699-3706.e5. [PMID: 31630956 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian sex chromosomes harbor an abundance of newly acquired ampliconic genes, although their functions require elucidation [1-9]. Here, we demonstrate that the X-linked Slx and Slxl1 ampliconic gene families represent mouse-specific neofunctionalized copies of a meiotic synaptonemal complex protein, Sycp3. In contrast to the meiotic role of Sycp3, CRISPR-loxP-mediated multi-megabase deletions of the Slx (5 Mb) and Slxl1 (2.3Mb) ampliconic regions result in post-meiotic defects, abnormal sperm, and male infertility. Males carrying Slxl1 deletions sire more male offspring, whereas males carrying Slx and Slxl1 duplications sire more female offspring, which directly correlates with Slxl1 gene dosage and gene expression levels. SLX and SLXL1 proteins interact with spindlin protein family members (SPIN1 and SSTY1/2) and males carrying Slxl1 deletions downregulate a sex chromatin modifier, Scml2, leading us to speculate that Slx and Slxl1 function in chromatin regulation. Our study demonstrates how newly acquired X-linked genes can rapidly evolve new and essential functions and how gene amplification can increase sex chromosome transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa N Kruger
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 1241 E. Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Michele A Brogley
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 1241 E. Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jamie L Huizinga
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 1241 E. Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Kidd
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 1241 E. Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dirk G de Rooij
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yueh-Chiang Hu
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jacob L Mueller
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 1241 E. Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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28
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Zhang Q, Ji SY, Busayavalasa K, Shao J, Yu C. Meiosis I progression in spermatogenesis requires a type of testis-specific 20S core proteasome. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3387. [PMID: 31358751 PMCID: PMC6662770 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11346-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is tightly regulated by ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, especially during spermiogenesis, in which histones are replaced by protamine. However, the functions of proteasomal activity in meiosis I and II remain elusive. Here, we show that PSMA8-associated proteasomes are essential for the degradation of meiotic proteins and the progression of meiosis I during spermatogenesis. PSMA8 is expressed in spermatocytes from the pachytene stage, and assembles a type of testis-specific core proteasome. Deletion of PSMA8 decreases the abundance of proteasome in testes. Meiotic proteins that are normally degraded at late prophase I, such as RAD51 and RPA1, remain stable in PSMA8-deleted spermatocytes. Moreover, PSMA8-null spermatocytes exhibit delayed M-phase entry and are finally arrested at this stage, resulting in male infertility. However, PSMA8 is neither expressed nor required for female meiotic progression. Thus, meiosis I progression in spermatogenesis, particularly entry into and exit from M-phase, requires the proteasomal activity of PSMA8-associated proteasomes. Proteasomal degradation is required for the progression of spermatogenesis. Here the authors demonstrate that deletion of the testis-specific proteasome subunit PMSA8 leads to stabilization of the meiotic proteins RAD51 and RPA1 and a spermatogenic block at M-phase of meiosis I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianting Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-40530, Sweden
| | - Shu-Yan Ji
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Kiran Busayavalasa
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-40530, Sweden
| | - Jingchen Shao
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-40530, Sweden
| | - Chao Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-40530, Sweden.
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29
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Menon DU, Shibata Y, Mu W, Magnuson T. Mammalian SWI/SNF collaborates with a polycomb-associated protein to regulate male germline transcription in the mouse. Development 2019; 146:dev174094. [PMID: 31043422 PMCID: PMC6803380 DOI: 10.1242/dev.174094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A deficiency in BRG1, the catalytic subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, results in a meiotic arrest during spermatogenesis. Here, we explore the causative mechanisms. BRG1 is preferentially enriched at active promoters of genes essential for spermatogonial pluripotency and meiosis. In contrast, BRG1 is also associated with the repression of somatic genes. Chromatin accessibility at these target promoters is dependent upon BRG1. These results favor a model in which BRG1 coordinates spermatogenic transcription to ensure meiotic progression. In spermatocytes, BRG1 interacts with SCML2, a testis-specific PRC1 factor that is associated with the repression of somatic genes. We present evidence to suggest that BRG1 and SCML2 concordantly regulate genes during meiosis. Furthermore, BRG1 is required for the proper localization of SCML2 and its associated deubiquitylase, USP7, to the sex chromosomes during pachynema. SCML2-associated mono-ubiquitylation of histone H2A lysine 119 (H2AK119ub1) and acetylation of histone lysine 27 (H3K27ac) are elevated in Brg1cKO testes. Coincidentally, the PRC1 ubiquitin ligase RNF2 is activated while a histone H2A/H2B deubiquitylase USP3 is repressed. Thus, BRG1 impacts the male epigenome by influencing the localization and expression of epigenetic modifiers. This mechanism highlights a novel paradigm of cooperativity between SWI/SNF and PRC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish U Menon
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Yoichiro Shibata
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Weipeng Mu
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Terry Magnuson
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
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30
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Wang Y, Wang H, Zhang Y, Du Z, Si W, Fan S, Qin D, Wang M, Duan Y, Li L, Jiao Y, Li Y, Wang Q, Shi Q, Wu X, Xie W. Reprogramming of Meiotic Chromatin Architecture during Spermatogenesis. Mol Cell 2019; 73:547-561.e6. [PMID: 30735655 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin organization undergoes drastic reconfiguration during gametogenesis. However, the molecular reprogramming of three-dimensional chromatin structure in this process remains poorly understood for mammals, including primates. Here, we examined three-dimensional chromatin architecture during spermatogenesis in rhesus monkey using low-input Hi-C. Interestingly, we found that topologically associating domains (TADs) undergo dissolution and reestablishment in spermatogenesis. Strikingly, pachytene spermatocytes, where synapsis occurs, are strongly depleted for TADs despite their active transcription state but uniquely show highly refined local compartments that alternate between transcribing and non-transcribing regions (refined-A/B). Importantly, such chromatin organization is conserved in mouse, where it remains largely intact upon transcription inhibition. Instead, it is attenuated in mutant spermatocytes, where the synaptonemal complex failed to be established. Intriguingly, this is accompanied by the restoration of TADs, suggesting that the synaptonemal complex may restrict TADs and promote local compartments. Thus, these data revealed extensive reprogramming of higher-order meiotic chromatin architecture during mammalian gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, THU-PKU Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hanben Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, THU-PKU Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhenhai Du
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, THU-PKU Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Si
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Suixing Fan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC-SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Dongdong Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Mei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yanchao Duan
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lufan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yuying Jiao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC-SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, THU-PKU Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qiujun Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, THU-PKU Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qinghua Shi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC-SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, THU-PKU Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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31
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Lu Y, Liao S, Tu W, Yang B, Liu S, Pei X, Tao D, Lu Y, Ma Y, Yang Y, Liu Y. DNA demethylation facilitates the specific transcription of the mouse X-linked Tsga8 gene in round spermatids†. Biol Reprod 2019; 100:994-1007. [PMID: 30541061 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Some X-linked genes necessary for spermiogenesis are specifically activated in the postmeiotic germ cells. However, the regulatory mechanism about this activation is not clearly understood. Here, we examined the potential mechanism controlling the transcriptional activation of the mouse testis specific gene A8 (Tsga8) gene in round spermatids. We observed that the Tsga8 expression was negatively correlated with the methylation level of the CpG sites in its core promoter. During spermatogenesis, the Tsga8 promoter was methylated in spermatogonia, and then demethylated in spermatocytes. The demethylation status of Tsga8 promoter was maintained through the postmeiotic germ cells, providing a potentially active chromatin for Tsga8 transcription. In vitro investigation showed that the E12 and Spz1 transcription factors can enhance the Tsga8 promoter activity by binding to the unmethylated E-box motif within the Tsga8 promoter. Additionally, the core Tsga8 promoter drove green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in the germ cells of Tsga8-GFP transgenic mice, and the GFP expression pattern was similar to that of endogenous Tsga8. Moreover, the DNA methylation profile of the Tsga8-promoter-driven transgene was consistent with that of the endogenous Tsga8 promoter, indicating the existence of a similar epigenetic modification for the Tsga8 promoter to ensure its spatiotemporal expression in vivo. Taken together, this study reports the details of a regulatory mechanism that includes DNA methylation and transcription factors to mediate the postmeiotic expression of an X-linked gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Lu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Shunyao Liao
- Diabetic Center and Institute of Transplantation, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wenling Tu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- Diabetic Center and Institute of Transplantation, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xue Pei
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Dachang Tao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yilu Lu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yongxin Ma
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yunqiang Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
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Ernst C, Eling N, Martinez-Jimenez CP, Marioni JC, Odom DT. Staged developmental mapping and X chromosome transcriptional dynamics during mouse spermatogenesis. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1251. [PMID: 30890697 PMCID: PMC6424977 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09182-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Male gametes are generated through a specialised differentiation pathway involving a series of developmental transitions that are poorly characterised at the molecular level. Here, we use droplet-based single-cell RNA-Sequencing to profile spermatogenesis in adult animals and at multiple stages during juvenile development. By exploiting the first wave of spermatogenesis, we both precisely stage germ cell development and enrich for rare somatic cell-types and spermatogonia. To capture the full complexity of spermatogenesis including cells that have low transcriptional activity, we apply a statistical tool that identifies previously uncharacterised populations of leptotene and zygotene spermatocytes. Focusing on post-meiotic events, we characterise the temporal dynamics of X chromosome re-activation and profile the associated chromatin state using CUT&RUN. This identifies a set of genes strongly repressed by H3K9me3 in spermatocytes, which then undergo extensive chromatin remodelling post-meiosis, thus acquiring an active chromatin state and spermatid-specific expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Ernst
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Nils Eling
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Celia P Martinez-Jimenez
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Welcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - John C Marioni
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK.
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Welcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Duncan T Odom
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK.
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Alavattam KG, Maezawa S, Sakashita A, Khoury H, Barski A, Kaplan N, Namekawa SH. Attenuated chromatin compartmentalization in meiosis and its maturation in sperm development. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:175-184. [PMID: 30778237 PMCID: PMC6402993 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0189-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Germ cells manifest a unique gene expression program and regain totipotency in the zygote. Here, we perform Hi-C analysis to examine 3D chromatin organization in male germ cells during spermatogenesis. We show that the highly compartmentalized 3D chromatin organization characteristic of interphase nuclei is attenuated in meiotic prophase. Meiotic prophase is predominated by short-range intrachromosomal interactions that represent a condensed form akin to that of mitotic chromosomes. However, unlike mitotic chromosomes, meiotic chromosomes display weak genomic compartmentalization, weak topologically associating domains, and localized point interactions in prophase. In postmeiotic round spermatids, genomic compartmentalization increases and gives rise to the strong compartmentalization seen in mature sperm. The X chromosome lacks domain organization during meiotic sex-chromosome inactivation. We propose that male meiosis occurs amid global reprogramming of 3D chromatin organization and that strengthening of chromatin compartmentalization takes place in spermiogenesis to prepare the next generation of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris G Alavattam
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Haia Khoury
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Artem Barski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Noam Kaplan
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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34
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Abstract
The evolution of heteromorphic sex chromosomes has occurred independently many times in different lineages. The differentiation of sex chromosomes leads to dramatic changes in sequence composition and function and guides the evolutionary trajectory and utilization of genes in pivotal sex determination and reproduction roles. In addition, meiotic recombination and pairing mechanisms are key in orchestrating the resultant impact, retention and maintenance of heteromorphic sex chromosomes, as the resulting exposure of unpaired DNA at meiosis triggers ancient repair and checkpoint pathways. In this review, we summarize the different ways in which sex chromosome systems are organized at meiosis, how pairing is affected, and differences in unpaired DNA responses. We hypothesize that lineage specific differences in meiotic organization is not only a consequence of sex chromosome evolution, but that the establishment of epigenetic changes on sex chromosomes contributes toward their evolutionary conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasman Daish
- Comparative Genome Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Frank Grützner
- Comparative Genome Biology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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35
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L3MBTL2 regulates chromatin remodeling during spermatogenesis. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:2194-2207. [PMID: 30760872 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-019-0283-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lethal (3) malignant brain tumor like 2 (L3MBTL2) is a member of the MBT-domain proteins, which are involved in transcriptional repression and implicated in chromatin compaction. Our previous study has shown that L3MBTL2 is highly expressed in the testis, but its role in spermatogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, we found that L3MBTL2 was most highly expressed in pachytene spermatocytes within the testis. Germ cell-specific ablation of L3mbtl2 in the testis led to increased abnormal spermatozoa, progressive decrease of sperm counts and premature testicular failure in mice. RNA-sequencing analysis on L3mbtl2 deficient testes confirmed that L3MBTL2 was a transcriptional repressor but failed to reveal any significant changes in spermatogenesis-associated genes. Interestingly, L3mbtl2 deficiency resulted in increased γH2AX deposition in the leptotene spermatocytes, subsequent inappropriate retention of γH2AX on autosomes, and defective crossing-over and synapsis during the pachytene stage of meiosis I, and more germ cell apoptosis and degeneration in aging mice. L3MBTL2 interacted with the histone ubiquitin ligase RNF8. Inhibition of L3MBTL2 reduced nuclear RNF8 and ubH2A levels in GC2 cells. L3mbtl2 deficiency led to decreases in the levels of the RNF8 and ubH2A pathway and in histone acetylation in elongating spermatids, and in protamine 1 deposition and chromatin condensation in sperm. These results suggest that L3MBTL2 plays important roles in chromatin remodeling during meiosis and spermiogenesis.
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36
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Maezawa S, Alavattam KG, Tatara M, Nagai R, Barski A, Namekawa SH. A rapidly evolved domain, the SCML2 DNA-binding repeats, contributes to chromatin binding of mouse SCML2†. Biol Reprod 2019; 100:409-419. [PMID: 30137219 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes involved in sexual reproduction diverge rapidly as a result of reproductive fitness. Here, we identify a novel protein domain in the germline-specific Polycomb protein SCML2 that is required for the establishment of unique gene expression programs after the mitosis-to-meiosis transition in spermatogenesis. We term this novel domain, which is comprised of rapidly evolved, DNA-binding repeat units of 28 amino acids, the SCML2 DNA-binding (SDB) repeats. These repeats are acquired in a specific subgroup of the rodent lineage, having been subjected to positive selection in the course of evolution. Mouse SCML2 has two DNA-binding domains: one is the SDB repeats and the other is an RNA-binding region, which is conserved in human SCML2. For the recruitment of SCML2 to target loci, the SDB repeats cooperate with the other functional domains of SCML2 to bind chromatin. The cooperative action of these domains enables SCML2 to sense DNA hypomethylation in an in vivo chromatin environment, thereby enabling SCML2 to bind to hypomethylated chromatin. We propose that the rapid evolution of SCML2 is due to reproductive adaptation, which has promoted species-specific gene expression programs in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kris G Alavattam
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mayu Tatara
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Rika Nagai
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Artem Barski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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37
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Maezawa S, Hasegawa K, Alavattam KG, Funakoshi M, Sato T, Barski A, Namekawa SH. SCML2 promotes heterochromatin organization in late spermatogenesis. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:jcs.217125. [PMID: 30097555 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.217125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis involves the progressive reorganization of heterochromatin. However, the mechanisms that underlie the dynamic remodeling of heterochromatin remain unknown. Here, we identify SCML2, a germline-specific Polycomb protein, as a critical regulator of heterochromatin organization in spermatogenesis. We show that SCML2 accumulates on pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) in male germ cells, where it suppresses PRC1-mediated monoubiquitylation of histone H2A at Lysine 119 (H2AK119ub) and promotes deposition of PRC2-mediated H3K27me3 during meiosis. In postmeiotic spermatids, SCML2 is required for heterochromatin organization, and the loss of SCML2 leads to the formation of ectopic patches of facultative heterochromatin. Our data suggest that, in the absence of SCML2, the ectopic expression of somatic lamins drives this process. Furthermore, the centromere protein CENP-V is a specific marker of PCH in postmeiotic spermatids, and SCML2 is required for CENP-V localization on PCH. Given the essential functions of PRC1 and PRC2 for genome-wide gene expression in spermatogenesis, our data suggest that heterochromatin organization and spermatogenesis-specific gene expression are functionally linked. We propose that SCML2 coordinates the organization of heterochromatin and gene expression through the regulation of Polycomb complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA.,Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Kazuteru Hasegawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
| | - Kris G Alavattam
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
| | - Mayuka Funakoshi
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Taiga Sato
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Artem Barski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA.,Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
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