DAZL binds to 3'UTR of Tex19.1 mRNAs and regulates Tex19.1 expression.

ABSTRACT

Spermatogenesis is a complex process subject to strict controls at both levels of transcription and translation. It has been proposed that DAZL protein binds to RNA in the cytoplasm of germ cells and controls spermatogenesis. In male mice, loss of Dazl results in numerous defects throughout the mitotic and meiotic process of germ cell development. Tex19.1 also plays an important role during spermatogenesis and Tex19.1(-/-) knockout males exhibit impaired spermatogenesis. Mouse DAZL protein can bind to 3'UTR of mTex19.1 mRNAs and may repress mTex19.1 expression at the translational level. These have been confirmed by both electrophoretic mobility shift assay and translation assay in Zebrafish embryo detecting the luciferase activity. Taken together these data suggest that mDazl may regulate mTex19.1 expression through binding to 3'UTR of mTex19.1 mRNAs in germ cells.