Article
Developmental Biology
Corey Bunce, Lindsey Barske, Gloria Zhang, Blanche Capel
Summary: During mammalian development, the commitment of bipotential supporting cells to Sertoli or granulosa cell fates plays a crucial role in gonadal sex determination. In XY mice, failure of unified commitment leads to the formation of an ovotestis, where central supporting cells develop as Sertoli cells while pole supporting cells develop as granulosa cells. However, contrary to previous beliefs, the expression of SRY and SOX9, the drivers of Sertoli cell fate, is not limited to the central domain and Sertoli cell fate is not spread through paracrine relay among supporting cells. Instead, there is a center-biased pattern of supporting cell precursor ingression, resulting in increased supporting cell density in the central domain.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew B. Couger, Scott W. Roy, Noelle Anderson, Landen Gozashti, Stacy Pirro, Lindsay S. Millward, Michelle Kim, Duncan Kilburn, Kelvin J. Liu, Todd M. Wilson, Clinton W. Epps, Laurie Dizney, Luis A. Ruedas, Polly Campbell
Summary: The sex chromosome system of the creeping vole is unique, with females having an unpaired X chromosome (X0) and the sex chromosome being one of the two X chromosomes, both carrying fragments of the ancestral Y chromosome. The consequences of this transformed sex chromosome system in this species include Y-like degeneration, expression of Y-linked genes in females, and X inactivation of the male-specific chromosome in male somatic cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Fei Han, Li Yin, Xiao Jiang, Xi Zhang, Ning Zhang, Jun-tang Yang, Wei-ming Ouyang, Xiang-lin Hao, Wen-bin Liu, Yong-sheng Huang, Hong-qiang Chen, Fei Gao, Zhong-tai Li, Qiao-nan Guo, Jia Cao, Jin-yi Liu
Summary: Sox30 is an age-related and essential regulator of meiosis in the postnatal testis, playing a critical role in germ-cell differentiation by directly regulating key regulators. Its re-expression in Sox30-null mice successfully restores germ-cell meiosis, differentiation and Leydig cell proliferation, improving fertility over time.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Najla AlOgayil, Klara Bauermeister, Jose Hector Galvez, Varun S. Venkatesh, Qinwei Kim-wee Zhuang, Matthew L. Chang, Rachel A. Davey, Jeffrey D. Zajac, Kinuyo Ida, Akihide Kamiya, Teruko Taketo, Guillaume Bourque, Anna K. Naumova
Summary: Sexual dimorphism in gene regulation plays a crucial role in shaping phenotypic sexual dimorphism. Studies have shown that sex bias in methylation either coincides or follows sex bias in gene expression, and BCL6 plays a distinct role in demethylation of intragenic sexually dimorphic methylated regions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Bianca M. Lupan, Rachel A. Solecki, Camila M. Musso, Fernando C. Alsina, Debra L. Silver
Summary: This study demonstrates that EIF4A3 promotes cortical development by controlling progenitor mitosis, cell fate, and survival. The lack of EIF4A3 leads to cell death and impaired neurogenesis. The research also reveals new mechanisms of neurogenesis mediated by the exon junction complex (EJC).
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nobuhiro Tanno, Kazumasa Takemoto, Yuki Takada-Horisawa, Ryuki Shimada, Sayoko Fujimura, Naoki Tani, Naoki Takeda, Kimi Araki, Kei-ichiro Ishiguro
Summary: During male meiotic prophase I, FBXO47 plays a crucial role as the stabilizer of the synaptonemal complex, impacting homologous chromosome synapsis, meiotic recombination, and XY body formation.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Adriana Gata-Garcia, Amit Porat, Lior Brimberg, Bruce T. Volpe, Patricio T. Huerta, Betty Diamond
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of sex chromosomes and hormones on the male bias in a murine model of ASD, showing that sex chromosomes are the main determinant of male bias in the maternal C6-induced model of ASD, with hormonal effects being less dominant.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Charlotte P. Choi, Rebecca J. Tay, Margaret R. Starostik, Suhua Feng, James J. Moresco, Brooke E. Montgomery, Emily Xu, Maya A. Hammonds, Michael C. Schatz, Taiowa A. Montgomery, John R. Yates, Steven E. Jacobsen, John K. Kim
Summary: Research has identified SNPC-1.3 as a male-specific piRNA transcription factor in Caenorhabditis elegans, which is essential for spermatogenic piRNA transcription in conjunction with the core transcription factor SNPC-4. Loss of SNPC-1.3 results in depletion of male piRNAs and fertility defects. Additionally, the master regulator of sex determination, TRA-1, represses the expression of snpc-1.3 during oogenesis, with loss of TRA-1 targeting leading to ectopic expression of snpc-1.3 and male piRNAs. Thus, sexually dimorphic regulation of snpc-1.3 coordinates male and female piRNA expression during germline development.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Noha A. M. Shendy, Amber L. Broadhurst, Kristin Shoemaker, Robert Read, Amy N. Abell
Summary: The kinase activity encoded by the Map3k4 gene is essential for male gonadal sex determination, as its inactivation can lead to embryonic male gonadal sex reversal.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edrian Bumanlag, Eleonora Scarlata, Cristian O'Flaherty
Summary: Oxidative stress is a common cause of male infertility, impairing sperm motility, capacitation, and fertilization. Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) protects sperm against oxidative stress by scavenging ROS and repairing oxidized sperm membranes. Lack of PRDX6 leads to impaired sperm motility, elevated lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage. This study found that both PRDX6 peroxidase and iPLA(2) activities are essential for male-mouse fertility.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Rui Yan, Suihan Wu, Wenxuan Wang, Meng Chu, Pengyu Liu
Summary: 46, XX male sex reversal syndrome (SRS) is a rare disease associated with the translocation of the sex-determining region Y gene (SRY). A new iPSC line (SMUSHi001-A) was generated from PBMCs of an SRS patient, providing a cell model for exploring the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic methods of SRS.
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Martine Perret
Summary: Early experiences in litter-bearing mammals can have long-lasting effects on adult behavioral and physiological traits, with litter composition influencing the reproductive success of male mouse lemurs. Male offspring's body mass and growth were affected by litter size, but early growth did not predict future reproductive success. Social interactions and competition played a key role in mating success, with male offspring born in same-sex litters showing higher competitiveness and fathering more offspring.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Jacalyn M. Green, Mae J. Ciancio, Joanna Goral, Matthew Pytynia, Lenore Pitstick, Alice Meyer, Andrew Nguyen, Katherine Lee, Ameir Barakat, Bruno C. Jham
Summary: High-fat diet and male sex worsen the pathology of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-induced oral cancer, with elevated lymphoid cell infiltration contributing to disease progression.
Article
Ecology
Susumu Chiba, Aya Iwamoto, Seina Shimabukuro, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Karin Inoue
Summary: Adult sex ratio (ASR) is crucial for population management, but its impact on population dynamics is still not well understood. This study investigated the effect of biased ASR on reproductive success in a decapod crustacean. The results showed that an increase in the proportion of males in mating groups led to a decrease in the number of eggs carried by females. This negative effect of ASR was observed at the population level when considering spawning success. Additionally, a male-biased ASR was found to reduce genetic diversity in the population. These findings highlight the importance of considering ASR in population management strategies.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yujun Sun, Ming Fu, Yina Ang, Lan Zhu, Linan Wei, Ying He, Hanlai Zeng
Summary: This study investigated the regulatory mechanism of male fertility in PTGMS rice and found that critical genes and metabolites in the metabolism of sugar, lipid, and phenylpropanoid play essential roles in male fertility formation. These findings provide important insights for addressing the negative effects of environmental variation on two-line hybrid rice production.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Maiko Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Suwa, Kohta Sugiyama, Naoki Okashita, Masanori Kawaguchi, Naoki Tani, Kazumi Matsubara, Akira Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Seki
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Shunsuke Kuroki, Ryo Maeda, Masashi Yano, Satsuki Kitano, Hitoshi Miyachi, Mikiko Fukuda, Yoichi Shinkai, Makoto Tachibana
Article
Developmental Biology
Chun-Wei Feng, Guillaume Burnet, Cassy M. Spiller, Fiona Ka Man Cheung, Kallayanee Chawengsaksophak, Peter Koopman, Josephine Bowles
Summary: This study demonstrates the crucial role of retinoic acid responsive elements (RAREs) in initiating Stra8 expression in the fetal mouse ovary, along with the enhancement of Stra8 expression by the transcription factor DMRT1 in the presence of retinoic acid. The specific anterior-to-posterior pattern of Stra8 initiation in germ cells is faithfully recapitulated by the 2.9 kb Stra8 promoter, highlighting the importance of RAREs in regulating germ cell meiosis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takashi Yoshino, Takahiro Suzuki, Go Nagamatsu, Haruka Yabukami, Mika Ikegaya, Mami Kishima, Haruka Kita, Takuya Imamura, Kinichi Nakashima, Ryuichi Nishinakamura, Makoto Tachibana, Miki Inoue, Yuichi Shima, Ken-ichirou Morohashi, Katsuhiko Hayashi
Summary: Novel methods have been developed to generate functional mouse oocytes from pluripotent stem cell-derived primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) and fetal ovarian somatic cell-like cells (FOSLCs). When FOSLCs are aggregated with PGCLCs, they enter meiosis and produce oocytes capable of fertilization and development into live offspring, providing a method for in vitro oocyte production and follicle generation for a better understanding of mammalian reproduction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuki Horisawa-Takada, Chisato Kodera, Kazumasa Takemoto, Akihiko Sakashita, Kenichi Horisawa, Ryo Maeda, Ryuki Shimada, Shingo Usuki, Sayoko Fujimura, Naoki Tani, Kumi Matsuura, Tomohiko Akiyama, Atsushi Suzuki, Hitoshi Niwa, Makoto Tachibana, Takashi Ohba, Hidetaka Katabuchi, Satoshi H. Namekawa, Kimi Araki, Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
Summary: The study identified a protein complex composed of ZFP541 and KCTD19 as key transcriptional regulators in mouse meiotic prophase progression. This complex promotes the completion of meiotic prophase and triggers the reconstruction of transcriptional network and chromatin organization. ZFP541 binds to and suppresses genes associated with transcriptional regulation and covalent chromatin modification to ensure proper meiotic progression.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryo Maeda, Makoto Tachibana
Summary: This study demonstrates that HP1 not only recognizes and spreads the epigenetic mark H3K9me2/3, but also plays a role in heterochromatin organization by regulating the protein stability of H3K9 methyltransferases and demethylases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryuichi Nakagawa, Kei Takasawa, Maki Gau, Atsumi Tsuji-Hosokawa, Hideya Kawaji, Yasuhiro Murakawa, Shuji Takada, Masashi Mikami, Satoshi Narumi, Maki Fukami, Rajini Sreenivasan, Tetsuo Maruyama, Elena J. Tucker, Liang Zhao, Josephine Bowles, Andrew Sinclair, Peter Koopman, Yoshihide Hayashizaki, Tomohiro Morio, Kenichi Kashimada
Summary: This study identified enhancers of five ovarian genes involved in early ovarian development using the expression of enhancer derived transcripts (eRNAs) as a characterization of active enhancers. Two candidate sequences for enhancers of Wnt4 and Rspo1 were identified and their enhancer activities were confirmed. Rare sequence variants were also found in these enhancer sequences in patients with impaired ovarian development. This research advances an important unmet need in forward human genetics.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ella Thomson, Liang Zhao, Yen-Shan Chen, Enya Longmuss, Ee Ting Ng, Rajini Sreenivasan, Brittany Croft, Xin Song, Andrew Sinclair, Michael Weiss, Peter Koopman, Emanuele Pelosi
Summary: SRY is a crucial Y-chromosomal gene for male sex development in mammals. By studying the functionality of human SRY in a mouse model, we can gain deeper insights into its role in embryonic testis development. This research helps to unravel the genetic variations underlying differences and disorders in sex determination.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mamu Shimizu, Shingo Miyawaki, Taishin Kuroda, Miyu Umeta, Mifumi Kawabe, Kazuhiro Watanabe
Summary: Periodontal disease is a common oral disease caused by periodontal-disease-associated bacteria in humans and dogs. Daily oral hygiene is not usually practiced by dogs, leading to a high prevalence of periodontal disease. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol, inhibits oral bacteria growth in humans but is toxic to dogs. This study explores the inhibitory effect of erythritol, a safe sugar alcohol for dogs, on periodontal-disease-associated bacteria in dogs with periodontal disease.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Anthony D. Bird, Emily R. Frost, Stefan Bagheri-Fam, Brittany M. Croft, Janelle M. Ryan, Liang Zhao, Peter Koopman, Vincent R. Harley
Summary: During sex determination in mice, FGFR2c is involved in testis development while FOXL2 and WNT4/RSPO1 pathways drive ovarian development. The role of FGFR2 in the ovary and its requirement in the testis after sex determination are not clear.
Review
Developmental Biology
Naoki Okashita, Makoto Tachibana
Summary: Accurate regulation of SRY is critical for male development in XY animals, with Sry expression being controlled in a spatially and temporally stringent manner by several transcription factors and epigenetic modifications acting on Sry expression.
SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
