Download MendeleyTestis-Specific Histone Variant H3t Gene Is Essential for Entry into Spermatogenesis
Ueda, J., Harada, A., Urahama, T., Machida, S., Maehara, K., Hada, M., Makino, Y., Nogami, J., Horikoshi, N., Osakabe, A., Taguchi, H., Tanaka, H., Tachiwana, H., Yao, T., Yamada, M., Iwamoto, T., Isotani, A., Ikawa, M., Tachibana, T., Okada, Y., Kimura, H., Ohkawa, Y., Kurumizaka, H., Yamagata, K.(2017) Cell Rep 18: 593-600
- PubMed: 28099840
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.065
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
5B1L, 5B1M - PubMed Abstract:
Cellular differentiation is associated with dynamic chromatin remodeling in establishing a cell-type-specific epigenomic landscape. Here, we find that mouse testis-specific and replication-dependent histone H3 variant H3t is essential for very early stages of spermatogenesis. H3t gene deficiency leads to azoospermia because of the loss of haploid germ cells. When differentiating spermatogonia emerge in normal spermatogenesis, H3t appears and replaces the canonical H3 proteins. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal that H3t-containing nucleosomes are more flexible than the canonical nucleosomes. Thus, by incorporating H3t into the genome during spermatogonial differentiation, male germ cells are able to enter meiosis and beyond.
Organizational Affiliation:
Center for Education in Laboratory Animal Research, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi 487-8501, Japan; Center for Genetic Analysis of Biological Responses, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: junueda@isc.chubu.ac.jp.
