Role of ppp6r3 in zebrafish gonadal differentiation and gametogenesis

The gonad differentiation and gametogenesis of fish is regulated by various factors. Protein phosphatase (PP) have the function of catalyzing the dephosphorylation of proteins in organisms. As a member of the protein phosphatase family, protein phosphatase type 6 (PP6) plays an important role in gonadal development and gametogenesis. The role of ppp6r3, which encodes the regulatory subunit 3 of protein phosphatase 6, in gonadal differentiation and gametogenesis is still unclear. In this study, two zebrafish ppp6r3 mutant lines were constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. It was found that the absence of ppp6r3 leads to the development of only male zebrafish, and these mutants are incapable of fertilizing wild-type eggs. Further investigations revealed that in the testes of ppp6r3 mutants, the transition of spermatocytes to mature sperm was blocked, disrupting spermatogenesis. In summary, this study established a ppp6r3 mutant model, exhibiting defects in gonadal differentiation and gametogenesis, which provides a new model for further research on the mechanisms by which Ppp6r3 regulates germ cell proliferation, differentiation, and sex determination.