BAF-L Modulates Histone-to-Protamine Transition during Spermiogenesis.

Chao Huang, Huan Gong, Bin Mu, Xinting Lan, Chengcheng Yang, Jinlong Tan, Wentao Liu, Yuanfeng Zou, Lixia Li, Bin Feng, Xia He, Qihui Luo, Zhengli Chen

International journal of molecular sciences 2022 Feb 11

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Maturing male germ cells undergo a unique developmental process in spermiogenesis that replaces nucleosomal histones with protamines, the process of which is critical for testicular development and male fertility. The progress of this exchange is regulated by complex mechanisms that are not well understood. Now, with mouse genetic models, we show that barrier-to-autointegration factor-like protein (BAF-L) plays an important role in spermiogenesis and spermatozoal function. BAF-L is a male germ cell marker, whose expression is highly associated with the maturation of male germ cells. The genetic deletion of BAF-L in mice impairs the progress of spermiogenesis and thus male fertility. This effect on male fertility is a consequence of the disturbed homeostasis of histones and protamines in maturing male germ cells, in which the interactions between BAF-L and histones/protamines are implicated. Finally, we show that reduced testicular expression of BAF-L represents a risk factor of human male infertility.

Citation

Chao Huang, Huan Gong, Bin Mu, Xinting Lan, Chengcheng Yang, Jinlong Tan, Wentao Liu, Yuanfeng Zou, Lixia Li, Bin Feng, Xia He, Qihui Luo, Zhengli Chen. BAF-L Modulates Histone-to-Protamine Transition during Spermiogenesis. International journal of molecular sciences. 2022 Feb 11;23(4)