title: Testis-specific transcription mechanisms promoting male germ-cell differentiation.
abstract: Male germ-cell differentiation requires spermatogenic stage- and cell-specific gene expression that is achieved by unique chromatin remodeling, transcriptional control and the expression of testis-specific genes or isoforms. Recent findings have shown that the testis has specialized transcription complexes that coordinate the differentiation program of spermatogenesis. There are male germ cell-specific differences in the components of the general transcription machinery. These include upregulated expression of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) family and its associated cofactors. Importantly, a member of the TBP family, TBP-like factor (TLF), has a distribution pattern that is dependent on the spermatogenic cycle and is essential for spermatogenesis. Interestingly TBP-associated factor (TAF7), a factor of the transcription factor (TF)IID complex, is exchanged at a critical stage in germ cell development for the testis-specific paralogue TAF7L. A compelling amount of data has established that cAMP-response-element modulator (CREM), a transcription factor responsive to the cAMP signal transduction pathway, drives expression of key testis-specific genes. In this review we summarize recent advances in the transcription machinery that is testis-specific, gene-selective and necessary for the process of spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS-INSERM-Université Louis Pasteur, BP 163, 67404 Illkirch, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimmins
authors.forename: Noora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kotaja
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sassone-Corsi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator