• PMID: 27345455
• Gene Name: CTCF
• Condition: Role in spermatogenesis, Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Role in spermatogenesis, Male infertility

CTCF contributes in a critical way to spermatogenesis and male fertility

Hernández-Hernández A, Lilienthal I, Fukuda N, Galjart N, Höög C.

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. FAU - Hernández-Hernández, Abrahan AU - Hernández-Hernández A AD - Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. FAU - Lilienthal, Ingrid AU - Lilienthal I AD - Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. FAU - Fukuda, Nanaho AU - Fukuda N AD - Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Berzelius väg 35, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. FAU - Galjart, Niels AU - Galjart N AD - Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus MC, 2040 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.