Deletion of the DNA/RNA-binding protein MSY2 leads to post-meiotic arrest.
Y-box proteins are a well-characterized family of nucleic acid binding proteins that are expressed from bacteria to human. This review will focus on MSY2, a member of the Y-box gene family that is exclusively expressed in male and female germ cells. MSY2 is the mouse ortholog of FRGY2, the Xenopus germ cell-specific protein and the human germ cell protein, Contrin. MSY2 functions as a co-activator of transcription in male germ cells and plays an important role in the translational repression and storage of both paternal and maternal mRNAs in spermatocytes, spermatids and oocytes. Following gene targeting, matings of heterozygotes produce a normal Mendelian ratio with equal numbers of phenotypically normal males and females. However, males and females lacking Msy2 are infertile. In Msy2-null males, spermatogenesis is disrupted in post-meiotic germ cells with many misshapen and multinucleated spermatids. No spermatozoa are found in the epididymis. The germ cell specificity and the critical functions played by this multifunctional DNA- and RNA-binding protein during spermatogenesis make Contrin, the human ortholog of MSY2, an attractive and novel target for male contraception.
Yang
Juxiang
J
Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1310 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA.
Medvedev
Sergey
S
Yu
Junying
J
Schultz
Richard M
RM
Hecht
Norman B
NB
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C075593:YBX2 protein, Xenopus; C485481:YBX2 protein, human; C116047:Ybx2 protein, mouse