H3mm15: A distinct histone H3.3 subvariant supporting normal spermatogenesis (IMAGE)

Kyushu University

H3mm15: A distinct histone H3.3 subvariant supporting normal spermatogenesis

Caption

H3mm15 is predominantly expressed in the testis and differs from conventional H3.3 at amino acids 100, 112, and 128. Live-cell FRAP analysis showed that H3mm15 associates more dynamically with chromatin than H3.3, while replacing glutamine 100 with the corresponding H3.3 residue shifted its behavior toward that of H3.3. Mice lacking H3mm15 exhibited seminiferous tubule disorganization, altered expression of spermatogenesis-related genes, and reduced sperm motility. Together, these findings indicate that small differences in histone amino acid sequence can alter chromatin properties and contribute to normal spermatogenesis.

Credit

Akihito Harada and co-authors/Kyushu University

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