| First Author | Lin Z | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Cell Rep | Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 113651 |
| PubMed ID | 38175751 | Mgi Jnum | J:350572 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7580350 | Doi | 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113651 |
| Citation | Lin Z, et al. (2024) The male pachynema-specific protein MAPS drives phase separation in vitro and regulates sex body formation and chromatin behaviors in vivo. Cell Rep 43(1):113651 |
| abstractText | Dynamic chromosome remodeling and nuclear compartmentalization take place during mammalian meiotic prophase I. We report here that the crucial roles of male pachynema-specific protein (MAPS) in pachynema progression might be mediated by its liquid-liquid phase separation in vitro and in cellulo. MAPS forms distinguishable liquid phases, and deletion or mutations of its N-terminal amino acids (aa) 2-9 disrupt its secondary structure and charge properties, impeding phase separation. Maps(-/-) pachytene spermatocytes exhibit defects in nucleus compartmentalization, including defects in forming sex bodies, altered nucleosome composition, and disordered chromatin accessibility. Maps(Delta2-9/Delta2-9) male mice expressing MAPS protein lacking aa 2-9 phenocopy Maps(-/-) mice. Moreover, a frameshift mutation in C3orf62, the human counterpart of Maps, is correlated with nonobstructive azoospermia in a patient exhibiting pachynema arrest in spermatocyte development. Hence, the phase separation property of MAPS seems essential for pachynema progression in mouse and human spermatocytes. |
