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A premeiotic function for boule in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea
Harini Iyer1, Melanie Issigonis1, Prashant P Sharma2
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801;
Summary
In planarians, two boule genes were identified. Smed-boule1 is crucial for meiosis, while Smed-boule2 maintains early germ cells, offering a new model for studying male infertility genes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mutations in the Y chromosome Deleted in Azoospermia (DAZ) gene cause male infertility.
- DAZ homologs include boule (invertebrates) and Daz-like (Dazl, vertebrates), involved in germ cell development.
- Vertebrate Dazl's premeiotic role may stem from boule duplication and divergence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize boule paralogs in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.
- To investigate the premeiotic functions of these planarian boule homologs.
- To explore the evolutionary origins of premeiotic functions within the DAZ protein family.
Main Methods:
- Identification and phylogenetic analysis of boule paralogs in Schmidtea mediterranea.
- Functional characterization of Smed-boule1 and Smed-boule2 in germ cell development.
- Identification and analysis of planarian homologs of DAZL/DAZ-interacting partners and mRNA targets.
Main Results:
- Two boule paralogs, Smed-boule1 and Smed-boule2, were identified in planarians.
- Smed-boule1 is essential for male germ cell meiotic progression.
- Smed-boule2 is required for early male germ cell maintenance, similar to vertebrate Dazl.
- Phylogenetic analyses suggest independent evolution of premeiotic functions in planarian boule2 and vertebrate Dazl.
Conclusions:
- Planarian boule2 possesses a premeiotic function, analogous to vertebrate Dazl.
- This study reveals a premeiotic role for an invertebrate boule homolog.
- Planarians provide a valuable model system for studying the premeiotic functions of the DAZ protein family and male infertility.
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