Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility. Gene expression was measured in whole testis from males aged 62-86 days. Samples include 190 first generation lab-bred male offspring of wild-caught mice from the Mus musculus musculus - M. m. domesticus hybrid zone.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.
Project description:Spermatogenesis plays an important role in the mammalian testis, involving in the complex processes of mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. Spermatogenesis may also be disrupted in the absence of the immunological and ‘fence’ functions of the BTB, resulting in male subfertility or infertility. Mice lacking wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) display male reproductive organ defects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these abnormalities remain unclear. We explored the function of Wip1 in spermatogenesis and fertility by examining differences in the expressed testis proteome and phosphoproteome between Wip1-deficient and wild-type mice using a proteomics approach. Among a total of 6872 proteins and 4280 phosphorylation sites on 1614 proteins identified in our analysis, 58 proteins and 159 phosphorylation sites on 141 proteins were differentially regulated between these two groups of mice. These results suggested that proinflammatory cytokines may impair the blood–testis barrier dynamics by decreasing the expression of junction-associated proteins, which effect could be partially responsible for the subfertility and spermatogenesis defects in Wip1-knockout mice.
Project description:Spermatogenesis plays an important role in the mammalian testis, involving in the complex processes of mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. Spermatogenesis may also be disrupted in the absence of the immunological and ‘fence’ functions of the BTB, resulting in male subfertility or infertility. Mice lacking wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) display male reproductive organ defects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these abnormalities remain unclear. We explored the function of Wip1 in spermatogenesis and fertility by examining differences in the expressed testis proteome and phosphoproteome between Wip1-deficient and wild-type mice using a proteomics approach. 90 proteins and 178 phosphoproteins were differentially regulated between these two groups of mice. These results suggested that proinflammatory cytokines may impair the blood–testis barrier dynamics by decreasing the expression of junction-associated proteins, which effect could be partially responsible for the subfertility and spermatogenesis defects in Wip1-knockout mice.
Project description:Taf7l (a paralogue of Taf7) and Trf2 (a TBP-related protein) are components of the core promoter complex required for gene/tissue-specific transcription of protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II. Previous studies reported that Taf7l knockout mice exhibit structurally abnormal sperm, reduced sperm count, weakened motility and compromised fertility. Here we find that continued backcrossing of Taf7l-/Y mice from N5 to N9 produced KO males that are essentially sterile. Genome-wide expression profiling by mRNA-seq analysis of wild type (WT) and Taf7l-/Y (KO) testes revealed that Taf7l ablation impairs the expression of many post-meiotic spermatogenic specific as well as metabolic genes. Importantly, histological analysis of testes revealed that Taf7l-/Y mice develop post-meiotic arrest at the first stage of spermiogenesis, phenotypically similar to Trf2-/- mice, but distinct from Taf4b-/- mice. Indeed, we find that Taf7l and Trf2 co-regulate post-meiotic genes, but none of Taf4b-regulated germ stem cell genes in testes. Genome-wide ChIP-seq studies indicate that TAF7L binds to promoters of activated post-meiotic genes in testis. Moreover, biochemical studies show that TAF7L associates with TRF2 both in vitro and in testis suggesting that TAF7L likely cooperates directly with TRF2 at promoters of a subset of post-meiotic genes to regulate spermiogenesis. Our findings thus provide a new mechanism for cell-type specific transcriptional control involving an interaction between a ‘non-prototypic’ core promoter recognition factor (Trf2) and an orphan TAF subunit (Taf7l) in mammalian testis-specific gene transcription. Genome-wide mapping of TAF7L and Pol II in testis tissue, and mRNA-seq expression profiling wild type and Taf7l knockout testis.