The RNA-binding protein ELAVL1/HuR is essential for mouse spermatogenesis, acting both at meiotic and postmeiotic stages.

ABSTRACT: Posttranscriptional mechanisms are crucial to regulate spermatogenesis. Accurate protein synthesis during germ cell development relies on RNA binding proteins that control the storage, stability, and translation of mRNAs in a tightly and temporally regulated manner. Here, we focused on the RNA binding protein Embryonic Lethal Abnormal Vision (ELAV) L1/Human antigen R (HuR) known to be a key regulator of posttranscriptional regulation in somatic cells but the function of which during gametogenesis has never been investigated. In this study, we have used conditional loss- and gain-of-function approaches to address this issue in mice. We show that targeted deletion of HuR specifically in germ cells leads to male but not female sterility. Mutant males are azoospermic because of the extensive d

SUBMITTER: Chi MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3154883 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature