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First published online September 7, 2007

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BETs on for spermatogenesis

The conserved bromodomain motif binds to acetylated lysines in histones, but although some bromodomain-containing proteins are implicated in chromatin remodelling, the in vivo roles of most are poorly understood. Now, on p. 3507, Shang and colleagues report that Brdt, a testis-specific member of the BET subfamily of double-bromodomain-containing proteins, is essential for male germ cell differentiation. The researchers report that mice homozygous for a mutant allele of Brdt that lacks the first bromodomain (Brdt^BD1) are viable but the males are infertile. The morphologically abnormal sperm that these animals make lack the foci of heterochromatin at the perinuclear envelope seen in elongating wild-type spermatids. Furthermore, the researchers report, there is increased expression of testis-specific histone H1t in Brdt^BD1/BD1 testes, and Brdt protein (but not Brdt^BD1 protein) associates with the H1t promoter. These results suggest that Brdt is involved in the chromatin condensation that occurs during the late stages of spermatogenesis - interestingly, some infertile but otherwise healthy men have mutations in the human BRDT gene.

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Related articles in Development:

The first bromodomain of Brdt, a testis-specific member of the BET sub-family of double-bromodomain-containing proteins, is essential for male germ cell differentiation

Enyuan Shang, Helen D. Nickerson, Duancheng Wen, Xiangyuan Wang, and Debra J. Wolgemuth
Development 2007 134: 3507-3515. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?