Trim41 is required to regulate chromosome axis protein dynamics and meiosis in male mice

• Published in: PLoS genetics Vol. 18; no. 6; p. e1010241
• Main Authors: Oura, Seiya, Hino, Toshiaki, Satoh, Takashi, Noda, Taichi, Koyano, Takayuki, Isotani, Ayako, Matsuyama, Makoto, Akira, Shizuo, Ishiguro, Kei-Ichiro, Ikawa, Masahito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.06.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Chromosomes; Engineering and Technology; Females; Fertility; Infertility; Male; Males; Mammals; Meiosis; Meiosis - genetics; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Mutants; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Ovaries; Phylogenetics; Proteins; Research and Analysis Methods; Rodents; Spermatocytes; Spermatocytes - metabolism; Spermatogenesis; Stem cells; Synaptonemal complex; Synaptonemal Complex - genetics; Synaptonemal Complex - metabolism; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin-protein ligase; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - genetics; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - metabolism
• ISSN: 1553-7404; 1553-7390; 1553-7404
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010241

Meiosis is a hallmark event in germ cell development that accompanies sequential events executed by numerous molecules. Therefore, characterization of these factors is one of the best strategies to clarify the mechanism of meiosis. Here, we report tripartite motif-containing 41 (TRIM41), a ubiquitin ligase E3, as an essential factor for proper meiotic progression and fertility in male mice. Trim41 knockout (KO) spermatocytes exhibited synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) overloading, especially on the X chromosome. Furthermore, mutant mice lacking the RING domain of TRIM41, required for the ubiquitin ligase E3 activity, phenocopied Trim41 KO mice. We then examined the behavior of mutant TRIM41 (ΔRING-TRIM41) and found that ΔRING-TRIM41 accumulated on the chromosome axes with overloaded SYCP3. This result suggested that TRIM41 exerts its function on the chromosome axes. Our study revealed that Trim41 is essential for preventing SYCP3 overloading, suggesting a TRIM41-mediated mechanism for regulating chromosome axis protein dynamics during male meiotic progression.