Targeted disruption of the testicular SPAG5/deepest protein does not affect spermatogenesis or fertility

In an effort to define the molecular basis for morphogenesis of major sperm tail structures, including outer dense fibers, we recently cloned the Spag5 gene by virtue of its strong and specific leucine-zipper-mediated interaction with Odf1, the 27-kDa major outer dense fiber protein. Spag5 is expressed during meiosis and in round spermatids and is similar, if not identical, to Deepest, a putative spindle pole protein. Here we report the disruption of the Spag5 gene by homologous recombination. Spag5-null mice lack Spag5 mRNA and protein. However, male mice are viable and fertile. Analysis of the process of spermatogenesis and sperm produced in Spag5-null mice did not reveal a major phenotype as a consequence of the knockout event. This result suggests that if Spag5 plays a role in spermatogenesis it is likely compensated for by unknown proteins.