Human DAZL1 encodes a candidate fertility factor in women that localizes to the prenatal and postnatal germ cells

The human DAZ (Deleted in AZoospermia) gene family contains a cluster of DAZ genes on the Y chromosome and a single autosomal homologue, DAZL1 (DAZ-Like) that maps to chromosome 3p24. Although the role of the Y chromosome gene family in determining fertility and the expression of the gene family has been well explored in men, little is known of the role of the DAZL1 gene in determining the fertility of women. In mice, loss of function of the homologue of DAZL1 results in the loss of male and female germ cells. In mice, Dazl1 protein is localized to prenatal and postnatal follicles. Here we demonstrate using two antisera that recognize human DAZL1 that the protein is expressed embryonically in germ cells of girls and in mature oocytes. This pattern of expression suggests that the DAZL1 gene is a candidate fertility factor in women and that it would be appropriate to search for mutations in the DAZL1 gene in peripheral blood DNA from women with primary amenorrhoea or premature ovarian failure.