DAZ Family Proteins, Key Players for Germ Cell Development.
DAZ family proteins are found almost exclusively in germ cells in distant animal species. Deletion or mutations of their encoding genes usually severely impair either oogenesis or spermatogenesis or both. The family includes Boule (or Boll), Dazl (or Dazla) and DAZ genes. Boule and Dazl are situated on autosomes while DAZ, exclusive of higher primates, is located on the Y chromosome. Deletion of DAZ gene is the most common causes of infertility in humans. These genes, encoding for RNA binding proteins, contain a highly conserved RNA recognition motif and at least one DAZ repeat encoding for a 24 amino acids sequence able to bind other mRNA binding proteins. Basically, Daz family proteins function as adaptors for target mRNA transport and activators of their translation. In some invertebrate species, BOULE protein play a pivotal role in germline specification and a conserved regulatory role in meiosis. Depending on the species, DAZL is expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs) and/or pre-meiotic and meiotic germ cells of both sexes. Daz is found in fetal gonocytes, spermatogonia and spermatocytes of adult testes. Here we discuss DAZ family genes in a phylogenic perspective, focusing on the common and distinct features of these genes, and their pivotal roles during gametogenesis evolved during evolution.
1. Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China ; 2. College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
Xia-Fei
XF
Fu
1. Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China ; 3. Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
Shun-Feng
SF
Cheng
1. Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China ; 3. Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
Lin-Qing
LQ
Wang
1. Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China ; 3. Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
Shen
S
Yin
4. Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome 00133, Italy.
Massimo
M
De Felici
1. Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China ; 3. Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
Wei
W
Shen
D000818:Animals; D000075364:Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D005810:Multigene Family; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
C095668:DAZ1 protein, human; D000075364:Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
Boule; DAZ; Dazl; germ cell; meiosis