title: Transcription Factor RFX2 Is a Key Regulator of Mouse Spermiogenesis.
abstract: The regulatory factor X (RFX) family of transcription factors is crucial for ciliogenesis throughout evolution. In mice, Rfx1-4 are highly expressed in the testis where flagellated sperm are produced, but the functions of these factors in spermatogenesis remain unknown. Here, we report the production and characterization of the Rfx2 knockout mice. The male knockout mice were sterile due to the arrest of spermatogenesis at an early round spermatid step. The Rfx2-null round spermatids detached from the seminiferous tubules, forming large multinucleated giant cells that underwent apoptosis. In the mutants, formation of the flagellum was inhibited at its earliest stage. RNA-seq analysis identified a large number of cilia-related genes and testis-specific genes that were regulated by RFX2. Many of these genes were direct targets of RFX2, as revealed by chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR assays. These findings indicate that RFX2 is a key regulator of the post-meiotic development of mouse spermatogenic cells.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Yujian
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Xiangjing
authors: X
authors: Hu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.|Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.|Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors: Sisi
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Xiuxia
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Xiwen
authors: X
authors: Lin
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Shangying
authors: S
authors: Liao
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Zhuqiang
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Feng
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.|Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors: Si
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Xiuhong
authors: X
authors: Cui
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Yanling
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Gao
authors: Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802-6199, USA.
authors: Rex A
authors: RA
authors: Hess
authors: State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors: Chunsheng
authors: C
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; C484417:Rfx2 protein, mouse