Mammalian Polycomb Scmh1 mediates exclusion of Polycomb complexes from the XY body in the pachytene spermatocytes
2006
The product of the Scmh1 gene, a mammalian homolog of Drosophila
Sex comb on midleg, is a constituent of the mammalian Polycomb repressive
complexes 1 (Prc1). We have identified Scmh1 as an indispensable component of
the Prc1. During progression through pachytene, Scmh1 was shown to be excluded
from the XY body at late pachytene, together with other Prc1 components such
as Phc1, Phc2, Rnf110 (Pcgf2), Bmi1 and Cbx2. We have identified the role of
Scmh1 in mediating the survival of late pachytene spermatocytes. Apoptotic
elimination of Scmh1 -/- spermatocytes is accompanied by
the preceding failure of several specific chromatin modifications at the XY
body, whereas synapsis of homologous autosomes is not affected. It is
therefore suggested that Scmh1 is involved in regulating the sequential
changes in chromatin modifications at the XY chromatin domain of the pachytene
spermatocytes. Restoration of defects in Scmh1 -/-
spermatocytes by Phc2 mutation indicates that Scmh1 exerts its
molecular functions via its interaction with Prc1. Therefore, for the first
time, we are able to indicate a functional involvement of Prc1 during the
meiotic prophase of male germ cells and a regulatory role of Scmh1 for Prc1,
which involves sex chromosomes.
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