• PMID: 29716999
• Gene Name: SETD2
• Condition: Sperm defects, Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Sperm defects, Male infertility

The histone methyltransferase SETD2 is required for expression of acrosin-binding protein 1 and protamines and essential for spermiogenesis in mice

Zuo X, Rong B, Li L, Lv R, Lan F, Tong MH.

Spermatogenesis is precisely controlled by complex gene expression programs and involves epigenetic reprogramming, including histone modification and DNA methylation. SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2) is the predominant histone methyltransferase catalyzing the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36me3) and plays key roles in embryonic stem cell differentiation and somatic cell development. However, its role in male germ cell development remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate an essential role of Setd2 for spermiogenesis, the final stage of spermatogenesis. Using RNA-seq, we found that, in postnatal mouse testes, Setd2 mRNA levels dramatically increase in 14-day-old mice. Using a germ cell-specific Setd2 knockout mouse model, we also found that targeted Setd2 knockout in germ cells causes aberrant spermiogenesis with acrosomal malformation before step 8 of the round-spermatid stage, resulting in complete infertility. Furthermore, we noted that the Setd2 deficiency results in complete loss of H3K36me3 and significantly decreases expression of thousands of genes, including those encoding acrosin-binding protein 1 (Acrbp1) and protamines, required for spermatogenesis. Our findings thus reveal a previously unappreciated role of the SETD2-dependent H3K36me3 modification in spermiogenesis and provide clues to the molecular mechanisms in epigenetic disorders underlying male infertility. CI - © 2018 Zuo et al. FAU - Zuo, Xiaoli AU - Zuo X AD - From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. FAU - Rong, Bowen AU - Rong B AD - Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Epigenetics, Shanghai Ministry of Education, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China, and. FAU - Li, Li AU - Li L AD - State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200001, China. FAU - Lv, Ruitu AU - Lv R AD - Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Epigenetics, Shanghai Ministry of Education, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China, and. FAU - Lan, Fei AU - Lan F AD - Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Epigenetics, Shanghai Ministry of Education, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China, and fei_lan@fudan.edu.cn.