Mouse BRWD1 is critical for spermatid postmeiotic transcription and female meiotic chromosome stability.

ABSTRACT: Postmeiotic gene expression is essential for development and maturation of sperm and eggs. We report that the dual bromodomain-containing protein BRWD1, which is essential for both male and female fertility, promotes haploid spermatid-specific transcription but has distinct roles in oocyte meiotic progression. Brwd1 deficiency caused down-regulation of ∼300 mostly spermatid-specific transcripts in testis, including nearly complete elimination of those encoding the protamines and transition proteins, but was not associated with global epigenetic changes in chromatin, which suggests that BRWD1 acts selectively. In females, Brwd1 ablation caused severe chromosome condensation and structural defects associated with abnormal telomere structure but only minor changes in gene expression at the ge

SUBMITTER: Pattabiraman S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4284233 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature