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Zfy genes are required for efficient meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) in spermatocytes.


ABSTRACT: During spermatogenesis, germ cells that fail to synapse their chromosomes or fail to undergo meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) are eliminated via apoptosis during mid-pachytene. Previous work showed that Y-linked genes Zfy1 and Zfy2 act as 'executioners' for this checkpoint, and that wrongful expression of either gene during pachytene triggers germ cell death. Here, we show that in mice, Zfy genes are also necessary for efficient MSCI and the sex chromosomes are not correctly silenced in Zfy-deficient spermatocytes. This unexpectedly reveals a triple role for Zfy at the mid-pachytene checkpoint in which Zfy genes first promote MSCI, then monitor its progress (since if MSCI is achieved, Zfy genes will be silenced), and finally execute cells with MSCI failure. This potentially constitutes a negative feedback loop governing this critical checkpoint mechanism.

SUBMITTER: Vernet N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5418838 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Zfy genes are required for efficient meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) in spermatocytes.

Vernet Nadège N   Mahadevaiah Shantha K SK   de Rooij Dirk G DG   Burgoyne Paul S PS   Ellis Peter J I PJI  

Human molecular genetics 20161201 24


During spermatogenesis, germ cells that fail to synapse their chromosomes or fail to undergo meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) are eliminated via apoptosis during mid-pachytene. Previous work showed that Y-linked genes Zfy1 and Zfy2 act as 'executioners' for this checkpoint, and that wrongful expression of either gene during pachytene triggers germ cell death. Here, we show that in mice, Zfy genes are also necessary for efficient MSCI and the sex chromosomes are not correctly silenced i  ...[more]

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