The male germline-specific protein MAPS is indispensable for pachynema progression and fertility
Miao Li, Jiahuan Zheng, Gaopeng Li, Zexiong Lin, Dongliang Li, Dongteng Liu, Haiwei Feng, Dandan Cao, Ernest Hung Yu Ng, Raymond Li, Chunsheng Han, William S.B. Yeung, Louise T. Chow, Hengbin Wang, Kui Liu
Abstract
Significance During meiosis prophase I in mammals, a series of events occur, such as homologous recombination, DSB repair, crossover formation, XY body formation, and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). We report here that a male pachynema-specific (MAPS) protein is essential for prophase I progression in mouse spermatocytes. Maps knockout causes the demise of pachytene spermatocytes throughout early to mid- and late pachynema, resulting in male but not female infertility. Moreover, protein ubiquitination was dramatically increased in Maps −/− pachytene spermatocytes, likely contributing to the dysregulated global gene expression, including failed MSCI. In summary, MAPS is an indispensable protein for male fertility.