• PMID: 26417726
• Gene Name: SUN4
• Condition: Globozoospermia with associated infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Globozoospermia with associated infertility

SUN4 is essential for nuclear remodeling during mammalian spermiogenesis

Calvi A, Wong AS, Wright G, Wong ES, Loo TH, Stewart CL, Burke B.

One of the more dramatic examples of cellular reorganization occurs during spermiogenesis in which a roughly spherical spermatid is transformed into a mature sperm cell. A highlight of this process involves nuclear remodeling whereby the round spermatid nucleus is sculpted into an elongated and polar structure. This transformation in nuclear architecture features chromatin condensation, changes in the composition and organization of the nuclear lamina and redistribution and elimination of nuclear pore complexes. The manchette, a cytoplasmic microtubule-based structure is thought to play a crucial role in the remodeling process. Here we show that SUN4, a spermatid nuclear membrane protein has an essential function in coupling the manchette to the nuclear periphery. In the absence of SUN4, manchette microtubules appear highly disorganized and the nucleus itself fails to elongate. Consequently, mice deficient in SUN4 display globozoospermia with associated infertility. CI - Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FAU - Calvi, Alessandra AU - Calvi A AD - Laboratory of Nuclear Dynamics and Architecture, Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, 138648, Singapore. Electronic address: Alessandra.Calvi@imb.a-star.edu.sg. FAU - Wong, Arnette Shi Wei AU - Wong AS AD - Laboratory of Nuclear Dynamics and Architecture, Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, 138648, Singapore. FAU - Wright, Graham AU - Wright G AD - IMB Microscopy Unit, Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, 138648, Singapore. FAU - Wong, Esther Sook Miin AU - Wong ES AD - Laboratory of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, 138648, Singapore. FAU - Loo, Tsui Han AU - Loo TH AD - Laboratory of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, 138648, Singapore. FAU - Stewart, Colin L AU - Stewart CL AD - Laboratory of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Medical Biology, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, 138648, Singapore.