Variant PNLDC1, Defective piRNA Processing, and Azoospermia

Liina Nagirnaja1, Nina Mørup1, John E Nielsen1

  • 1From the Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton (L.N., D.F.C.); the Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland (D.F.C.); the Department of Growth and Reproduction (N.M., J.E.N., R.S., I.G., S.B.W., N.E.S., E.R.-D.M., N.J., K.A.) and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (N.M., J.E.N., R.S., I.G., S.B.W., N.E.S., E.R.-D.M., N.J., K.A.), Rigshospitalet, and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (K.A.), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen; the Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute (R.S.), and the Institute of Biology Systems and Genetic Research (I.G.), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania; the Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior (M.S.O., G.W.H.), and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.W.H.), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Serviço de Genética, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (F.C., C.J.M.), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (F.C., C.J.M., A.M.L.), and the Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (A.M.L.) - all in Porto, Portugal; the Andrology and In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City (K.I.A.); the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (F.K.) and Urology (P.N.S.), Weill Cornell Medicine, New York; and the Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom (J.A.V.).

Summary

Mutations in PNLDC1 cause male infertility by disrupting piRNA processing, leading to errors in meiosis and spermatogenesis. This study identifies PNLDC1 as a key gene in male fertility.

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