Disruption of Ssp411 causes impaired sperm head formation and male sterility in mice.

BACKGROUND:We previously cloned the Ssp411 gene. We found that the Ssp411 protein is predominantly expressed in elongated spermatids in the rat testis in a stage-dependent manner. Although our findings strongly suggested that Ssp411 might play an important role in mammalian spermatogenesis, this hypothesis has not been studied. METHODS:) that was generated by piggyBac (PB) transposon insertion. We studied Ssp411-interacting proteins using proteome microarray, co-IP and GST pull-down assay. RESULTS: spermatids. The results of proteome microarray analysis and GST pull-down assays suggested that Ssp411 participates the ubiquitin-proteasome system by interacting with PSMC3. This has been reported to be manchette-associated and important for the head shaping of spermatids. CONCLUSIONS:Our study suggested that Ssp411 is required for spermiogenesis. It seems to play a role in sperm head shaping. The lack of Ssp411 causes sperm deformation and results in male infertility. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: mouse strain is an animal model of idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT), and the gene may represent a therapeutic target for iOAT patients.

KEYWORDS: {{ getKeywords(articleDetailText.words) }}