title: Histone H3.3 regulates dynamic chromatin states during spermatogenesis.
abstract: The histone variant H3.3 is involved in diverse biological processes, including development, transcriptional memory and transcriptional reprogramming, as well as diseases, including most notably malignant brain tumors. Recently, we developed a knockout mouse model for the H3f3b gene, one of two genes encoding H3.3. Here, we show that targeted disruption of H3f3b results in a number of phenotypic abnormalities, including a reduction in H3.3 histone levels, leading to male infertility, as well as abnormal sperm and testes morphology. Additionally, null germ cell populations at specific stages in spermatogenesis, in particular spermatocytes and spermatogonia, exhibited increased rates of apoptosis. Disruption of H3f3b also altered histone post-translational modifications and gene expression in the testes, with the most prominent changes occurring at genes involved in spermatogenesis. Finally, H3f3b null testes also exhibited abnormal germ cell chromatin reorganization and reduced protamine incorporation. Taken together, our studies indicate a major role for H3.3 in spermatogenesis through regulation of chromatin dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin T K
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Bonnie L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Barrilleaux
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cotterman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA knoepfler@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Knoepfler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D015153:Blotting, Western; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000502:physiology*; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D003959:Diamines; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011804:Quinolines; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003959:Diamines; D006657:Histones; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; C098022:SYBR Green I
keywords: Chromatin; Epigenetics; Fertility; Germ cells; H3f3b; Histone variant H3.3; Spermatogenesis