Anatomy and Function of Deleted in Azoospermia Like (DAZL) Gene in Human and Mouse

The deleted in azoospermia like (DAZL) gene is a member of the DAZ gene family. It is firstly identified in male germ cells and recognized as a key molecule of their development, now it is extended to the female germ cells and the embryo. The DAZL gene is constructed with 11 exons, 10 introns, a 5' untranslated region (UTR), and a 3' UTR, and the enhancers at the upstream of the promoter in both human and mouse. It has been revealed that DAZL gene expression is not restricted to germ cells. The known mechanisms for expression regulation include the CpG methylation on the promoter region and post-transcriptional regulation by antagonistic proteins. DAZL protein has one RNA recognition motif (RRM) and one DAZ repeat. DAZL orchestrates the translation of numerous mRNAs essential for germ cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Several studies have unveiled DAZL's broader roles, including its involvement in stemness and tumorigenicity through post-transcriptional regulation via polyadenylation and potential functions in RNA stabilization. The alternatively spliced variants are also evaluated in different tissues. This review consolidates current knowledge on DAZL's molecular mechanisms, expression, and emerging research directions, and introduces DAZL gene anatomy.