• PMID: 19805151
• Gene Name: MEIG1
• Condition: Role in manchette structure and function and the control of spermiogenesis
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Role in manchette structure and function and the control of spermiogenesis

MEIG1 is essential for spermiogenesis in mice

Zhang Z, Shen X, Gude DR, Wilkinson BM, Justice MJ, Flickinger CJ, Herr JC, Eddy EM, Strauss JF 3rd.

Spermatogenesis can be divided into three stages: spermatogonial mitosis, meiosis of spermatocytes, and spermiogenesis. During spermiogenesis, spermatids undergo dramatic morphological changes including formation of a flagellum and chromosomal packaging and condensation of the nucleus into the sperm head. The genes regulating the latter processes are largely unknown. We previously discovered that a bi-functional gene, Spag16, is essential for spermatogenesis. SPAG16S, the 35 kDa, testis-specific isoform derived from the Spag16 gene, was found to bind to meiosis expressed gene 1 product (MEIG1), a protein originally thought to play a role in meiosis. We inactivated the Meig1 gene and, unexpectedly, found that Meig1 mutant male mice had no obvious defect in meiosis, but were sterile as a result of impaired spermatogenesis at the stage of elongation and condensation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the manchette, a microtubular organelle essential for sperm head and flagellar formation was disrupted in spermatids of MEIG1-deficient mice. We also found that MEIG1 associates with the Parkin co-regulated gene (PACRG) protein, and that testicular PACRG protein is reduced in MEIG1-deficient mice. PACRG is thought to play a key role in assembly of the axonemes/flagella and the reproductive phenotype of Pacrg-deficient mice mirrors that of the Meig1 mutant mice. Our findings reveal a critical role for the MEIG1/PARCG partnership in manchette structure and function and the control of spermiogenesis. FAU - Zhang, Zhibing AU - Zhang Z AD - Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. zzhang4@vcu.edu FAU - Shen, Xuening AU - Shen X FAU - Gude, David R AU - Gude DR FAU - Wilkinson, Bonney M AU - Wilkinson BM FAU - Justice, Monica J AU - Justice MJ FAU - Flickinger, Charles J AU - Flickinger CJ FAU - Herr, John C AU - Herr JC FAU - Eddy, Edward M AU - Eddy EM