| First Author | Mark M | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | J Cell Sci | Volume | 121 |
| Issue | Pt 19 | Pages | 3233-42 |
| PubMed ID | 18799790 | Mgi Jnum | J:139646 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3809326 | Doi | 10.1242/jcs.035071 |
| Citation | Mark M, et al. (2008) STRA8-deficient spermatocytes initiate, but fail to complete, meiosis and undergo premature chromosome condensation. J Cell Sci 121(Pt 19):3233-42 |
| abstractText | We analysed the phenotypic outcome of a Stra8-null mutation on male meiosis. Because the mutant spermatocytes (1) underwent premeiotic DNA replication, (2) displayed cytological features attesting initiation of recombination and of axial-element assembly, and (3) expressed Spo11 and numerous other meiotic genes, it was concluded that STRA8 is dispensable for meiotic initiation. The few mutant spermatocytes that progressed beyond leptonema showed a prolonged bouquet-stage configuration, asynapsis and heterosynapsis, suggesting function(s) of STRA8 in chromosome pairing. Most importantly, a large number of mutant leptotene spermatocytes underwent premature chromosome condensation, within 24 hours following the meiotic S phase. This phenomenon yielded aberrant metaphase-like cells with 40 univalent chromosomes, similar to normal mitotic metaphases. From these latter observations and from the wild-type pattern of Stra8 expression, we propose that, in preleptotene spermatocytes, STRA8 is involved in the process that leads to stable commitment to the meiotic cell cycle. |
