| First Author | Ozawa M | Year | 2026 |
| Journal | Commun Biol | Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 1 | PubMed ID | 41612039 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:380948 | Mgi Id | MGI:8292703 |
| Doi | 10.1038/s42003-026-09636-5 | Citation | Ozawa M, et al. (2026) PTBP1 supports mouse spermatogenesis by facilitating cytoskeletal organization through the mTORC2-PKCalpha pathway in Sertoli cells. Commun Biol 9(1) |
| abstractText | Somatic Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule provide structural and paracrine support for spermatogenesis. Proper regulation of Sertoli cell cytoskeleton dynamics is essential for this function; however, the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) maintained cytoskeletal integrity in Sertoli cells via mTORC2 signaling. Sertoli cell-specific Ptbp1 deletion in mice resulted in germ cell loss, blood-testis barrier disruption, and male infertility. Transcriptomic analysis of purified Sertoli cells revealed the dysregulation of cytoskeletal and adhesion-related genes. RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing demonstrated that PTBP1 bound to Rictor mRNA. PTBP1 loss reduced RICTOR protein expression and downstream PKCalpha activation, impairing the F-actin cytoskeleton. Cytoskeletal defects caused by PTBP1 deficiency were restored by constitutively active PKCalpha, confirming the functional relevance of the mTORC2-PKCalpha axis. These findings highlighted PTBP1's role as a post-transcriptional regulator of male fertility through the maintenance of Sertoli cell architecture and spermatogenesis. |
