title: CTCF contributes in a critical way to spermatogenesis and male fertility.
abstract: The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is an architectural protein that governs chromatin organization and gene expression in somatic cells. Here, we show that CTCF regulates chromatin compaction necessary for packaging of the paternal genome into mature sperm. Inactivation of Ctcf in male germ cells in mice (Ctcf-cKO mice) resulted in impaired spermiogenesis and infertility. Residual spermatozoa in Ctcf-cKO mice displayed abnormal head morphology, aberrant chromatin compaction, impaired protamine 1 incorporation into chromatin and accelerated histone depletion. Thus, CTCF regulates chromatin organization during spermiogenesis, contributing to the functional organization of mature sperm.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Abrahan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lilienthal
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nanaho
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus MC, 2040 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galjart
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Höög
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D005298:Fertility; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D011479:Protamines / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities
chemical_list: D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; C000619698:Ctcf protein, mouse; C513176:Prm1 protein, mouse; D011479:Protamines