Loss of full-length DAZL isoform disrupts PABPC1-dependent translational regulation and meiosis.

ABSTRACT: Alternative splicing (AS) events are exceptionally active during spermatogenesis, enhancing the diversity of the testicular transcriptome and proteome. In mouse testes, the germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein DAZL undergoes alternative splicing to produce two isoforms: a full-length DAZL (DAZL_FL) and a short isoform lacking exon 8 (DAZL_Sh). While DAZL is a hallmark of germ cell development, the physiological roles of its alternative splicing, and the distinct functions of these two isoforms remain yet to be fully elucidated. To investigate this, we disrupted alternative splicing of Dazl by generating DAZL short isoform only mice via deletion of the DAZL exon 8 and found that the resulting loss of DAZL_FL led to male infertility, characterized by extensive spermatocyte apoptosis and ar

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12623972 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature