The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Drosophila </it>Merlin, the homolog of the human <it>Neurofibromatosis 2 </it>(<it>NF2</it>) gene, is important for the regulation of cell proliferation and receptor endocytosis. Male flies car...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2008-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Cell Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2121/9/1 |
| _version_ | 1818662453202911232 |
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| author | Omelyanchuk Leonid V Gubanova Natalia V Yudina Olga S Kopyl Sergei A Akhmametyeva Elena M Dorogova Natalia V Chang Long-Sheng |
| author_facet | Omelyanchuk Leonid V Gubanova Natalia V Yudina Olga S Kopyl Sergei A Akhmametyeva Elena M Dorogova Natalia V Chang Long-Sheng |
| author_sort | Omelyanchuk Leonid V |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Drosophila </it>Merlin, the homolog of the human <it>Neurofibromatosis 2 </it>(<it>NF2</it>) gene, is important for the regulation of cell proliferation and receptor endocytosis. Male flies carrying a <it>Mer</it><sup>3 </sup>allele, a missense mutation (Met<sup>177</sup>→Ile) in the <it>Merlin </it>gene, are viable but sterile; however, the cause of sterility is unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Testis examination reveals that hemizygous <it>Mer</it><sup>3 </sup>mutant males have small seminal vesicles that contain only a few immotile sperm. By cytological and electron microscopy analyses of the <it>Mer</it><sup>3</sup>, <it>Mer</it><sup>4 </sup>(Gln<sup>170</sup>→stop), and control testes at various stages of spermatogenesis, we show that <it>Merlin </it>mutations affect meiotic cytokinesis of spermatocytes, cyst polarization and nuclear shaping during spermatid elongation, and spermatid individualization. We also demonstrate that the lethality and sterility phenotype of the <it>Mer</it><sup>4 </sup>mutant is rescued by the introduction of a wild-type <it>Merlin </it>gene. Immunostaining demonstrates that the Merlin protein is redistributed to the area associated with the microtubules of the central spindle in telophase and its staining is less in the region of the contractile ring during meiotic cytokinesis. At the onion stage, Merlin is concentrated in the Nebenkern of spermatids, and this mitochondrial localization is maintained throughout sperm formation. Also, Merlin exhibits punctate staining in the acrosomal region of mature sperm.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Merlin </it>mutations affect spermatogenesis at multiple stages. The Merlin protein is dynamically redistributed during meiosis of spermatocytes and is concentrated in the Nebenkern of spermatids. Our results demonstrated for the first time the mitochondrial localization of Merlin and suggest that Merlin may play a role in mitochondria formation and function during spermatogenesis.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:01:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f1267a69c634ae7b3b168501d62775c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2121 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:01:11Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cell Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f1267a69c634ae7b3b168501d62775c2022-12-21T22:02:33ZengBMCBMC Cell Biology1471-21212008-01-0191110.1186/1471-2121-9-1The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesisOmelyanchuk Leonid VGubanova Natalia VYudina Olga SKopyl Sergei AAkhmametyeva Elena MDorogova Natalia VChang Long-Sheng<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Drosophila </it>Merlin, the homolog of the human <it>Neurofibromatosis 2 </it>(<it>NF2</it>) gene, is important for the regulation of cell proliferation and receptor endocytosis. Male flies carrying a <it>Mer</it><sup>3 </sup>allele, a missense mutation (Met<sup>177</sup>→Ile) in the <it>Merlin </it>gene, are viable but sterile; however, the cause of sterility is unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Testis examination reveals that hemizygous <it>Mer</it><sup>3 </sup>mutant males have small seminal vesicles that contain only a few immotile sperm. By cytological and electron microscopy analyses of the <it>Mer</it><sup>3</sup>, <it>Mer</it><sup>4 </sup>(Gln<sup>170</sup>→stop), and control testes at various stages of spermatogenesis, we show that <it>Merlin </it>mutations affect meiotic cytokinesis of spermatocytes, cyst polarization and nuclear shaping during spermatid elongation, and spermatid individualization. We also demonstrate that the lethality and sterility phenotype of the <it>Mer</it><sup>4 </sup>mutant is rescued by the introduction of a wild-type <it>Merlin </it>gene. Immunostaining demonstrates that the Merlin protein is redistributed to the area associated with the microtubules of the central spindle in telophase and its staining is less in the region of the contractile ring during meiotic cytokinesis. At the onion stage, Merlin is concentrated in the Nebenkern of spermatids, and this mitochondrial localization is maintained throughout sperm formation. Also, Merlin exhibits punctate staining in the acrosomal region of mature sperm.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Merlin </it>mutations affect spermatogenesis at multiple stages. The Merlin protein is dynamically redistributed during meiosis of spermatocytes and is concentrated in the Nebenkern of spermatids. Our results demonstrated for the first time the mitochondrial localization of Merlin and suggest that Merlin may play a role in mitochondria formation and function during spermatogenesis.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2121/9/1 |
| spellingShingle | Omelyanchuk Leonid V Gubanova Natalia V Yudina Olga S Kopyl Sergei A Akhmametyeva Elena M Dorogova Natalia V Chang Long-Sheng The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis BMC Cell Biology |
| title | The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis |
| title_full | The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis |
| title_fullStr | The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis |
| title_short | The role of <it>Drosophila </it>Merlin in spermatogenesis |
| title_sort | role of it drosophila it merlin in spermatogenesis |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2121/9/1 |
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