BOULE, a Deleted in Azoospermia Homolog, Is Recruited to Stress Granules in the Mouse Male Germ Cells

PLoS One. 2016 Sep 15;11(9):e0163015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163015. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

High temperature adversely affects normal development of male germ cells in mammals. Acute heat stress induces the formation of stress granules (SGs) in a set of male germ cells, and the SGs have been proposed to protect those cells from heat-induced apoptosis. DAZL, one of DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia) family proteins, was shown to be an essential component of SGs, which is required for SG formation in the mouse testis. In the present study, we asked whether BOULE, the founding member of DAZ family proteins, is a component of the SGs. We show that BOULE is recruited to the SGs upon heat stress, and that these SGs are developmental stage-specific. These results suggest that DAZ family proteins may have conserved roles in the SGs of male germ cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Male
  • Mice
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism*

Substances

  • Boll protein, mouse
  • RNA-Binding Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Marine Biotechnology Program (PJT200620). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.