title: Fidgetin-like1 is a strong candidate for a dynamic impairment of male meiosis leading to reduced testis weight in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous work, using an interspecific recombinant congenic mouse model, we reported a genomic region of 23 Mb on mouse chromosome 11 implicated in testis weight decrease and moderate teratozoospermia (∼20-30%), a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) called Ltw1. The objective of the present study is to identify the gene underlying this phenotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, we refined the QTL position to a 5 Mb fragment encompassing only 11 genes. We showed that the low testis weight phenotype was due to kinetic alterations occurring during the first wave of the spermatogenesis where we could point out to an abnormal lengthening of spermatocyte prophase. We identify Fidgetin-like 1 (Fignl1) as the gene underlying the phenotype, since if fulfilled both the physiological and molecular characteristics required. Indeed, amongst the 11 positional candidates it is the only gene that is expressed during meiosis at the spermatocyte stage, and that presents with non-synonymous coding variations differentiating the two mouse strains at the origin of the cross.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work prompted us to propose Fignl1 as a novel actor in mammal's male meiosis dynamics which has fundamental interest. Besides, this gene is a new potential candidate for human infertilities caused by teratozoospermia and blockades of spermatogenesis. In addition this study demonstrates that interspecific models may be useful for understanding complex quantitative traits.
authors: CNRS UMR 7592, Institut Jacques Monod, Equipe Génétique et Génomique du Développement Gonadique, Paris, France.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: L'Hôte
authors: Magalie
authors: M
authors: Vatin
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Auer
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Castille
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Passet
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Montagutelli
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Serres
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Vaiman
mesh_terms: D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; C522287:FIGNL1 protein, mouse