JMJD1C, a JmjC domain-containing protein, is required for long-term maintenance of male germ cells in mice

Shunsuke Kuroki; Mika Akiyoshi; Mikiyo Tokura; Hitoshi Miyachi; Yuji Nakai; Hiroshi Kimura; Yoichi Shinkai; Makoto Tachibana

doi:10.1095/biolreprod.113.108597

JMJD1C, a JmjC domain-containing protein, is required for long-term maintenance of male germ cells in mice

Biol Reprod. 2013 Oct 17;89(4):93. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.108597. Print 2013 Oct.

Authors

Shunsuke Kuroki¹, Mika Akiyoshi, Mikiyo Tokura, Hitoshi Miyachi, Yuji Nakai, Hiroshi Kimura, Yoichi Shinkai, Makoto Tachibana

Affiliation

¹ Experimental Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

PMID: 24006281
DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.108597

Abstract

JmjC domain-containing proteins are a class of enzymes responsible for histone demethylation. Previous studies revealed that the JmjC domain-containing protein KDM3A possesses intrinsic demethylase activity toward lysine 9 of histone H3 and plays essential roles in spermiogenesis. In contrast, the biological roles of JMJD1C, a KDM3A homolog in mice, are largely unknown. Here we present the crucial role of JMJD1C in male gametogenesis. Jmjd1c-deficient males became infertile due to the progressive reduction of germ cells after 3 mo of age. Importantly, Jmjd1c-deficient testes frequently contained abnormal tubules lacking developmentally immature germ cells. JMJD1C is most abundantly expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse testis. The numbers of ZBTB16-positive spermatogonia and apoptotic germ cells in Jmjd1c-deficient testes decreased and increased in an age-dependent manner, respectively. Our studies demonstrated that JMJD1C contributes to the long-term maintenance of the male germ line.

Keywords: aging; epigenetics; histone modifications; male infertility.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult Stem Cells / cytology
Adult Stem Cells / metabolism*
Adult Stem Cells / pathology
Aging*
Alternative Splicing
Androstenedione / blood
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Apoptosis*
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
Infertility, Male / blood
Infertility, Male / enzymology
Infertility, Male / metabolism
Infertility, Male / pathology
Isoenzymes / antagonists & inhibitors
Isoenzymes / deficiency
Isoenzymes / genetics
Isoenzymes / metabolism
Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / antagonists & inhibitors
Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / deficiency
Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / genetics
Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / metabolism*
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Mutant Strains
Mutant Proteins / metabolism
Spermatogenesis*
Spermatogonia / cytology
Spermatogonia / metabolism*
Spermatogonia / pathology
Testis / cytology
Testis / growth & development
Testis / metabolism
Testis / pathology
Testosterone / blood

Substances

Isoenzymes
Mutant Proteins
Testosterone
Androstenedione
JMJD1c protein, mouse
Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases