Guotong Li, Shushu Zhou, Yuqian Li, Sana Atta, Xun Xia, Xuan Sha, Rong Hua, Ping Zhou, Zhaolian Wei, Yunxia Cao, Huan Wu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Intercellular bridges (ICBs) are critical in intercellular communication, coordinated cellular development, and the equilibration of cytoplasmic contents between germ cells during vertebrate spermatogenesis. Mammalian TEX14 is specifically expressed in the testes and is a pivotal component of ICBs. It is indispensable for proper spermatogenesis; its deficiency causes meiotic arrest at the pachytene stage of meiotic prophase I, resulting in male infertility with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) in murine models. However, the specific effects of TEX14 deficiency on spermatogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified a novel compound heterozygous mutation in TEX14 (c.802A>T, p.S268C and c.1021C>T, p.R341*) in a patient with NOA. Functional analyses demonstrated that these mutations disrupted TEX14 synthesis. This led to spermatogenic failure characterized by meiotic arrest at the pachytene stage and impaired ICB assembly in the testes harboring the mutations. Our findings provide robust evidence that pathogenic biallelic TEX14 mutations are recurrent genetic etiologies of NOA in humans.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Genetics links research to the clinic, translating advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of genetic disease for the practising clinical geneticist. The journal publishes high quality research papers, short reports, reviews and mini-reviews that connect medical genetics research with clinical practice.
Topics of particular interest are:
• Linking genetic variations to disease
• Genome rearrangements and disease
• Epigenetics and disease
• The translation of genotype to phenotype
• Genetics of complex disease
• Management/intervention of genetic diseases
• Novel therapies for genetic diseases
• Developmental biology, as it relates to clinical genetics
• Social science research on the psychological and behavioural aspects of living with or being at risk of genetic disease