Protein acetylation and spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis refers to the developmental process of male germ cell formation from the spermatogonial stem cell to mature spermatozoa. The progression of male germ cells through the different phases of development, along with changes in cellular size and morphology, involves a coordinated change in their gene expression program at both the transcript and protein levels. It is well known that the stability, biological activity and cellular localization of proteins are regulated by post-translational modifications. In this review, we provide a brief update of current knowledge about the role of protein acetylation in mammalian spermatogenesis. Based on recent findings specific examples were cited to illustrate how these modifications are involved in controlling the different events that are important to the proper development of male germ cells.