STAG3 is a strong candidate gene for male infertility

[EN]Oligo- and azoospermia are severe forms of male infertility. However, known genetic factors account only for a small fraction of the cases. Recently, whole-exome sequencing in a large consanguineous family with inherited premature ovarian failure (POF) identified a homozygous frameshift mutation...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Llano Cuadra, María Elena, Gómez Hernández, Laura, García-Tuñón, Ignacio, Sánchez Martín, Manuel Adolfo, Caburet, Sandrine, Barbero, José Luis, Schimenti, John C, Veitia, Reiner A, Martín Pendás, Alberto
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
Repositorio:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
OAI Identifier:oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/143909
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10366/143909
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cell Cycle Proteins
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
Dmc1 protein, mouse
Nuclear Proteins
Phosphate-Binding Proteins
Stag3 protein, mouse
Cohesins
Rad51 Recombinase
Meiosis
Synaptonemal Complex
Mice
Infertility
Animals
proteínas nucleares
meiosis
animales
complejo sinaptonémico
infertilidad
proteínas de unión a fosfato
proteínas del ciclo celular
rad51 recombinasa
ratones
Descripción
Sumario:[EN]Oligo- and azoospermia are severe forms of male infertility. However, known genetic factors account only for a small fraction of the cases. Recently, whole-exome sequencing in a large consanguineous family with inherited premature ovarian failure (POF) identified a homozygous frameshift mutation in the STAG3 gene leading to a premature stop codon. STAG3 encodes a meiosis-specific subunit of the cohesin complex, a large proteinaceous ring with DNA-entrapping ability that ensures sister chromatid cohesion and enables correct synapsis and segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis. The pathogenicity of the STAG3 mutations was functionally validated with a loss-of-function mouse model for STAG3 in oogenesis. However, and since none of the male members of this family was homozygous for the mutant allele, we only could hypothesized its putative involvement in male infertility. In this report, we show that male mice devoid of Stag3 display a severe meiotic phenotype that includes a meiotic arrest at zygonema-like shortening of their chromosome axial elements/lateral elements, partial loss of centromeric cohesion at early prophase and maintenance of the ability to initiate but not complete RAD51- and DMC1-mediated double-strand break repair, demonstrating that STAG3 is a crucial cohesin subunit in mammalian gametogenesis and supporting our proposal that STAG3 is a strong candidate gene for human male infertility.