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First published online January 10, 2007
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/dev.02747

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Mammalian Polycomb Scmh1 mediates exclusion of Polycomb complexes from the XY body in the pachytene spermatocytes

¹ RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
² Division of Stem Cell Research and Developmental Genetics, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
³ Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
⁴ Nuclear Reprogramming Laboratory, Division of Gene Expression and Development, Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, UK.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan.
⁶ Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, The Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohrgasse 7, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: koseki{at}rcai.riken.jp)

Accepted 17 November 2006

The product of the Scmh1 gene, a mammalian homolog of Drosophila Sex comb on midleg, is a constituent of the mammalian Polycomb repressive complexes 1 (Prc1). We have identified Scmh1 as an indispensable component of the Prc1. During progression through pachytene, Scmh1 was shown to be excluded from the XY body at late pachytene, together with other Prc1 components such as Phc1, Phc2, Rnf110 (Pcgf2), Bmi1 and Cbx2. We have identified the role of Scmh1 in mediating the survival of late pachytene spermatocytes. Apoptotic elimination of Scmh1^-/- spermatocytes is accompanied by the preceding failure of several specific chromatin modifications at the XY body, whereas synapsis of homologous autosomes is not affected. It is therefore suggested that Scmh1 is involved in regulating the sequential changes in chromatin modifications at the XY chromatin domain of the pachytene spermatocytes. Restoration of defects in Scmh1^-/- spermatocytes by Phc2 mutation indicates that Scmh1 exerts its molecular functions via its interaction with Prc1. Therefore, for the first time, we are able to indicate a functional involvement of Prc1 during the meiotic prophase of male germ cells and a regulatory role of Scmh1 for Prc1, which involves sex chromosomes.

Key words: Mouse, Polycomb, Scmh1, Spermatogenesis, Apoptosis, XY body

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