Mouse autosomal homolog of DAZ, a candidate male sterility gene in humans, is expressed in male germ cells before and after puberty

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Genomics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1996.0366· OSTI ID:469041

Reijo, R; Seligman, J; Jaffe, T ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States); and others

Deletion of the Azoospermia Factor (AZF) region of the human Y chromosome results in spermatogenic failure. While the identity of the critical missing gene has yet to be established, a strong candidate is the putative RNA-binding protein DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia). Here we describe the mouse homolog of DAZ. Unlike human DAZ, which is Y-linked, in mouse the Dazh (DAZ homolog) gene maps to chromosome 17. Nonetheless, the predicted amino acid sequences of the gene products are quite similar, especially in their RNP/RRM (putative RNA-binding) domains, and both genes are transcribed predominantly in testes; the mouse gene is transcribed at a lower level in ovaries. Dazh transcripts were not detected in testes of mice that lack germ cells. In testes of wildtype mice, Dazh transcription is detectable 1 day after birth (when the only germ cells are prospermatogonia), increases steadily as spermatogonial stem cells appear, plateaus as the first wave of spermatogenic cells enters meiosis (10 days after birth), and is sustained at this level thereafter. This unique pattern of expression suggests the Dazh participates in differentiation, proliferation, or maintenance of germ cell founder populations before, during, and after the pubertal onset of spermatogenesis. Such functions could readily account for the diverse spermatogenic defects observed in human males with AZF deletion. 29 refs., 4 figs.

• OSTI ID: 469041
• Journal Information: Genomics, Journal Name: Genomics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 35; ISSN GNMCEP; ISSN 0888-7543
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CELL PROLIFERATION
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
CHROMOSOMES
DNA HYBRIDIZATION
DNA SEQUENCING
FLUORESCENCE
GENE MUTATIONS
GENE REGULATION
GENES
GENETIC MAPPING
GERM CELLS
HEREDITARY DISEASES
HUMAN Y CHROMOSOME
MICE
NUCLEOTIDES
ONTOGENESIS
SPERMATOGENESIS
STEM CELLS
STERILITY
TRANSCRIPTION