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PMID 29381885
Gene Name SNAI2
Condition Important for Spermatogenesis, Male infertility
Association Associated
Sex Male
Infertility type Male infertility
Other associated phenotypes Important for Spermatogenesis, Male infertility


Differential expression profiles of conserved Snail transcription factors in the mouse testis

Micati DJ, Hime GR, McLaughlin EA, Abud HE, Loveland KL.

Snail transcription factors are key regulators of cellular transitions during embryonic development and tumorigenesis. The closely related SNAI1 and SNAI2 proteins induce epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), acting predominantly as transcriptional repressors, while the functions of SNAI3 are unknown. An initial examination of Snai2-deficient mice provided evidence of deficient spermatogenesis. To address the hypothesis that Snail proteins are important for male fertility, this study provides the first comprehensive cellular expression profiles of all three mammalian Snail genes in the post-natal mouse testis. To evaluate Snail transcript expression profiles, droplet digital (dd) PCR and in situ hybridization were employed. Snai1, 2 and 3 transcripts are readily detected at 7, 14, 28 days post-partum (dpp) and 7 weeks (adult). Unique cellular expression was demonstrated for each by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry using Western blot-validated antibodies. SNAI1 and SNAI2 are in the nucleus of the most mature germ cell types at post-natal ages 10, 15 and 26. SNAI3 is only detected from 15 dpp onwards and is localized in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm. In the adult testis, Snai1 and Snai2 transcripts are detected in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, while Snai3 is in both germ and Sertoli cells. SNAI1 protein is evident in nuclei of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongated spermatids (Stages IX-XII). SNAI2 is present in the nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, with a faint signal detected in round spermatids. SNAI3 was detected only in Sertoli cell cytoplasm, as in juvenile testes. Additionally, colocalization of SNAI1 and SNAI2 with previously identified key binding partners, LSD1 and PRC2 complex components, provides strong evidence that these important functional interactions are conserved during spermatogenesis to control gene activity. These distinct expression profiles suggest that each Snail family member has unique functions during spermatogenesis. CI - © 2018 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology. FAU - Micati, D J AU - Micati DJ AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-3503-9434 AD - Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. AD - Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia. FAU - Hime, G R AU - Hime GR AD - Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. FAU - McLaughlin, E A AU - McLaughlin EA AD - School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. AD - School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. FAU - Abud, H E AU - Abud HE AD - Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.