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A Non-random Mouse Model for Pharmacological Reactivation of Mecp2 on the Inactive X Chromosome
Published on: May 22, 2019
Meiotic failure in male mice lacking an X-linked factor
Fang Yang1, Katarina Gell, Godfried W van der Heijden
1Department of Animal Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Genes & Development
|March 5, 2008
Summary
We identified TEX11, an X-chromosome gene crucial for male fertility. Its loss disrupts chromosome pairing and recombination, causing infertility in mice.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Reproductive Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Meiotic silencing of sex chromosomes may lead to loss of meiosis-specific genes.
- The role of X-linked genes in meiosis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel X-linked meiosis-specific factors in mice.
- To investigate the function of TEX11 in male meiosis and its impact on fertility.
Main Methods:
- Identification of TEX11 as an X-encoded meiosis-specific factor.
- Analysis of TEX11 localization on meiotic chromosomes.
- Assessment of TEX11 function through loss-of-function studies in mice.
- Investigation of TEX11 interactions with other meiotic proteins like SYCP2.
Main Results:
- TEX11 is the first identified X-encoded meiosis-specific factor in mice.
- TEX11 localizes to synapsed regions of meiotic chromosomes and meiotic nodules.
- Loss of TEX11 function leads to chromosomal asynapsis and reduced crossover formation.
- TEX11 deficiency causes spermatocyte elimination at pachytene and anaphase I stages, resulting in male infertility.
- TEX11 interacts with SYCP2, a component of the synaptonemal complex.
Conclusions:
- TEX11 is essential for proper synapsis and crossover formation during male meiosis.
- TEX11 plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity and male fertility.
- The findings challenge the hypothesis of X-chromosome gene depletion during evolution and highlight the importance of X-linked meiotic factors.
Related Concept Videos
02:19The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...
01:43Sex-linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
02:45The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
01:58X-Inactivation
The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.
01:58X-inactivation
The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.
01:19X-linked Traits
In most mammalian species, females have two X sex chromosomes and males have an X and Y. As a result, mutations on the X chromosome in females may be masked by the presence of a normal allele on the second X. In contrast, a mutation on the X chromosome in males more often causes observable biological defects, as there is no normal X to compensate. Trait variations arising from mutations on the X chromosome are called “X-linked”.