Project description:Background: The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme HR6B is required for spermatogenesis in mouse. Loss of HR6B results in aberrant histone modification patterns on the trancriptionally silenced X and Y chromosomes (XY body) and on centromeric chromatin in meiotic prophase. We studied the relationship between these chromatin modifications and their effects on global gene expression patterns, in spermatocytes and spermatids. Results: HR6B is enriched on the XY body and on centromeric regions in pachytene spermatocytes. Global gene expression analyses revealed that spermatid-specific single- and multicopy X-linked genes are prematurely expressed in Hr6b knockout spermatocytes. Very few other differences in gene expression were observed in these cells, except for upregulation of major satellite repeat transcription. In contrast, in Hr6b knockout spermatids, 7298 genes were differentially expressed; 65% of these genes was downregulated, but we observed a global upregulation of gene transcription from the X chromosome. In wildtype spermatids, approximately 20% of the single-copy X-linked genes reach an average expression level that is similar to the average expression from autosomes. Conclusions: Spermatids maintain an enrichment of repressive chromatin marks on the X chromosome, originating from meiotic prophase, but this does not interfere with transcription of the single-copy X-linked genes that are reactivated or specifically activated in spermatids. HR6B represses major satellite repeat transcription in spermatocytes, and functions in the maintenance of X chromosome silencing in spermatocytes and spermatids. It is discussed that these functions involve modification of chromatin structure, possibly including H2B ubiquitylation. 8 Affymetrix microarrays were generated: 4 from wildtype and HR6B knockout spermatocytes (2 replicates each), and 4 from wildtype and HR6B knockout spermatids (2 replicates each).
Project description:Background: The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme HR6B is required for spermatogenesis in mouse. Loss of HR6B results in aberrant histone modification patterns on the trancriptionally silenced X and Y chromosomes (XY body) and on centromeric chromatin in meiotic prophase. We studied the relationship between these chromatin modifications and their effects on global gene expression patterns, in spermatocytes and spermatids. Results: HR6B is enriched on the XY body and on centromeric regions in pachytene spermatocytes. Global gene expression analyses revealed that spermatid-specific single- and multicopy X-linked genes are prematurely expressed in Hr6b knockout spermatocytes. Very few other differences in gene expression were observed in these cells, except for upregulation of major satellite repeat transcription. In contrast, in Hr6b knockout spermatids, 7298 genes were differentially expressed; 65% of these genes was downregulated, but we observed a global upregulation of gene transcription from the X chromosome. In wildtype spermatids, approximately 20% of the single-copy X-linked genes reach an average expression level that is similar to the average expression from autosomes. Conclusions: Spermatids maintain an enrichment of repressive chromatin marks on the X chromosome, originating from meiotic prophase, but this does not interfere with transcription of the single-copy X-linked genes that are reactivated or specifically activated in spermatids. HR6B represses major satellite repeat transcription in spermatocytes, and functions in the maintenance of X chromosome silencing in spermatocytes and spermatids. It is discussed that these functions involve modification of chromatin structure, possibly including H2B ubiquitylation.
Project description:Mammals have evolved an XY sex chromosome system, resulting in dosage imbalance not only between sexes, but also between X-chromosome and autosome.
Project description:Brdt is a testis specific member of a family of chromatin interacting proteins. All of the family members have been shown to regulate transcription. Brdt is highly expressed in round spermatids, and may play a role in transcriptional regulation in these cells. We investigated transcriptional changes in mutant round spermatids that were homozygous for a mutation in which the first bromodomain of Brdt was removed. Round spermatids were purified from seven adult animals of each genotype for each Affymetrix microarray. Purity of round spermatids was assessed by propidium iodide staining.
Project description:In this study, we extend array CGH technology by making the accurate detection of segmental aneusomies possible from a single lymphoblast and fibroblast following Phi29 DNA polymerase amplification Array CGH experiments were performed on two segmental aneusomic cell lines derived from patients. As a proof of principle, an interstitial 4q-deletion (46, XX, del(4)(q13.1q22.3)) fibroblast cell line and an unbalanced reciprocal translocation involving chromosomes 14 and X (46, XX, der (X) t(X;14)(q21.3;q23.1)) EBV cell line were used. Array CGH experiments were performed using gDNA from the two cell lines to define the exact size of each rearrangement. For the 4q-deletion cell line, the size of the deleted region was 34 Mb corresponding to 39 clones spotted on the array (from RP11-340A13 to RP11-44P19). For the EBV cell line, the size of the 14q-duplication was 47 Mb corresponding to 63 clones (from RP11-62H20 to CTC-820M16) and the Xq-deletion was 58 Mb corresponding to 70 clones (from RP3-380C13 to RP11-218L14). For each cell line, three single cells were amplified. Following DNA amplification, all cells showed the expected DNA yields (n=6; ï?³ = 2.36 µg ï?± 0.12). Sex-mismatch array CGH experiments were conducted on amplified DNA samples obtained from the 4q-deletion cell line. Using the chromosome specific threshold obtained from our 18 experiments, sex chromosome and autosome ploidy levels were accurately identified with no false negative and no false positive results. Averaging the 39 clones within the chromosome 4q-deleted region enabled the accurate detection of the deletions. For each of the three amplified single-cell DNA of the unbalanced reciprocal translocation involving chromosomes 14 and X, male and female gDNA were used as references. Sex chromosome and autosome ploidy levels were accurately identified. Averaging intensity ratios of the 63 clones within the chromosome 14 duplicated region enabled the accurate detection of the duplications in the three replicate experiments. When, respectively, male or female gDNA were used as a reference, the average log2 mean ratio of the Xq-deleted region was â??0.04 or â??0.93, close to the theoretical expected value of 0 or minus 1. Interestingly, the log2 mean ratios of chromosomes 1 to 22 were highly similar when the same single cell amplified DNA was used for the two experiments using respectively female and male DNA as a reference. Hence, array CGH intensity ratio profiles were very reproducible.
Project description:Mammals have evolved an XY sex chromosome system, resulting in dosage imbalance not only between sexes, but also between X-chromosome and autosome. mRNA profiles of 9 pairs of human endometrial carcinoma and adjacent tissues were generated by Illumina 100-nucleotide paired-end sequencing
Project description:Studies of mice with Y chromosome long arm deficiencies suggest that the male-specific region (MSYq) encodes information required for sperm differentiation and postmeiotic sex chromatin repression (PSCR). Several genes have been identified on MSYq, but because they are present in more than 40 copies each, their functions cannot be investigated using traditional gene targeting. Here, we generate transgenic mice producing small interfering RNAs that specifically target the transcripts of the MSYq-encoded multicopy gene Sly (Sycp3-like Y-linked). Microarray analyses performed on these Sly-deficient males and on MSYq-deficient males show a remarkable up-regulation of sex chromosome genes in spermatids. Two sets of samples were examined: (1) Total RNA isolated from separated round spermatids of young adult males (8 weeks postpartum) with Yq deletions or shSLY targeted knockdown, compared to age- and strain-matched controls. (2) Total RNA isolated from whole testis of juvenile males (17 days post partum) with shSLY targeted knockdown, compared to age- and strain-matched controls.