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RNF216 is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility†.

ABSTRACT: Ring finger protein 216 (RNF216) belongs to the RING family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that are involved in cellular protein degradation. Mutations in human Rnf216 gene have been identified in Gordon Holmes syndrome, which is defined by ataxia, dementia, and hypogonadotropism. However, the gene function of Rnf216 in mammalian species remains unknown. Here, we show that targeted deletion of Rnf216 in mice results in disruption in spermatogenesis and male infertility. RNF216 is not required for female fertility. These findings reveal an essential function of RNF216 in spermatogenesis and male fertility and suggest a critical role for RNF216 in human gonadal development.

SUBMITTER: Melnick AF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6698654 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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RNF216 is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility†.

Melnick Ashley F AF Gao Yuen Y Liu Jiali J Ding Deqiang D Predom Alicia A Kelly Catherine C Hess Rex A RA Chen Chen C

Biology of reproduction 20190501 5

Ring finger protein 216 (RNF216) belongs to the RING family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that are involved in cellular protein degradation. Mutations in human Rnf216 gene have been identified in Gordon Holmes syndrome, which is defined by ataxia, dementia, and hypogonadotropism. However, the gene function of Rnf216 in mammalian species remains unknown. Here, we show that targeted deletion of Rnf216 in mice results in disruption in spermatogenesis and male infertility. RNF216 is not required for femal ...[more]

PMID: 30649198

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Project description:BackgroundMammals and Drosophila melanogaster share some striking similarities in spermatogenesis. Mitochondria in spermatids undergo dramatic morphological changes and syncytial spermatids are stripped from their cytoplasm and then individually wrapped by single membranes in an individualization process. In mammalian and fruit fly testis, components of the mitochondrial iron metabolism are expressed, but so far their function during spermatogenesis is unknown. Here we investigate the role of Drosophila mitoferrin (dmfrn), which is a mitochondrial carrier protein with an established role in the mitochondrial iron metabolism, during spermatogenesis.ResultsWe found that P-element insertions into the 5'-untranslated region of the dmfrn gene cause recessive male sterility, which was rescued by a fluorescently tagged transgenic dmfrn genomic construct (dmfrnvenus). Testes of mutant homozygous dmfrnSH115 flies were either small with unorganized content or contained some partially elongated spermatids, or testes were of normal size but lacked mature sperm. Testis squashes indicated that spermatid elongation was defective and electron micrographs showed mitochondrial defects in elongated spermatids and indicated failed individualization. Using a LacZ reporter and the dmfrnvenus transgene, we found that dmfrn expression in testes was highest in spermatids, coinciding with the stages that showed defects in the mutants. Dmfrn-venus protein accumulated in mitochondrial derivatives of spermatids, where it remained until most of it was stripped off during individualization and disposed of in waste bags. Male sterility in flies with the hypomorph alleles dmfrnBG00456 and dmfrnEY01302 over the deletion Df(3R)ED6277 was increased by dietary iron chelation and suppressed by iron supplementation of the food, while male sterility of dmfrnSH115/Df(3R)ED6277 flies was not affected by food iron levels.ConclusionsIn this work, we show that mutations in the Drosophila mitoferrin gene result in male sterility caused by developmental defects. From the sensitivity of the hypomorph mutants to low food iron levels we conclude that mitochondrial iron is essential for spermatogenesis. This is the first time that a link between the mitochondrial iron metabolism and spermatogenesis has been shown. Furthermore, due to the similar expression patterns of some mitochondrial iron metabolism genes in Drosophila and mammals, it is likely that our results are applicable for mammals as well.

Dataset Information

RNF216 is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility†.

Publications

RNF216 is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility†.

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