• PMID: 30521625
• Gene Name: NWC
• Condition: Impaired spermatogenesis, Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Impaired spermatogenesis, Male infertility

Lack of NWC protein (c11orf74 homolog) in murine spermatogenesis results in reduced sperm competitiveness and impaired ability to fertilize egg cells in vitro

Majkowski M, Laszkiewicz A, Sniezewski L, Grzmil P, Pawlicka B, Tomczyk I, Michniewicz M, Kapusniak V, Janik S, Chodaczek G, Cebrat M.

NWC is an uncharacterised protein containing three strongly conserved domains not found in any other known protein. Previously, we reported that the NWC protein is detected in cells in the germinal layer in murine testes (strain: C57BL/6), and its knockout results in no obvious phenotype. We determined the NWC expression pattern during spermatogenesis, and found this protein in spermatocytes and round spermatids, but not in epididymal sperm. Although NWC knockout males are fertile, we further characterised their reproductive potential employing non-standard mating that better simulates the natural conditions by including sperm competition. Such an approach revealed that the sperm of knockout males fail to successfully compete with control sperm. After analysing selected characteristics of the male reproductive system, we found that NWC knockout sperm had a reduced ability to fertilize cumulus-intact eggs during IVF. This is the first report describing a subtle phenotype of NWC knockout mice that could be detected under non-standard mating conditions. Our results indicate that NWC plays an important role in spermatogenesis and its deficiency results in the production of functionally impaired sperm. FAU - Majkowski, Michal AU - Majkowski M AD - Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. FAU - Laszkiewicz, Agnieszka AU - Laszkiewicz A AD - Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. FAU - Sniezewski, Lukasz AU - Sniezewski L AD - Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. FAU - Grzmil, Pawel AU - Grzmil P AD - Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. FAU - Pawlicka, Bernadetta AU - Pawlicka B AD - Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. FAU - Tomczyk, Igor AU - Tomczyk I AD - Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. FAU - Michniewicz, Martyna AU - Michniewicz M AD - Vivarium, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. FAU - Kapusniak, Violetta AU - Kapusniak V AD - Chair of Biostructure and Physiology, Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. FAU - Janik, Sylwia AU - Janik S AD - Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. FAU - Chodaczek, Grzegorz AU - Chodaczek G AD - Laboratory of Confocal Microscopy, PORT Polish Centre for Technology Development, Wroclaw, Poland.