Comparative gene expression analysis of repro9/repro9 and wild type testes from 14 and 17 day mice

Repro9 in an allele of Mybl1 (A-Myb) transcription factor obtained in ENU screen to identify alleles causing mouse infertility. Repro9/repro9 mutant males are infertile due to meiotic arrest at pachytene stage. Mutants show wide range of abnormalities including inefficient chromosome synapsis, sex body formation and progression through meiotic cycle. Females are unaffected. To determine genes transcriptionally regulated by MYBL1 we analyzed gene expression profiles of wild type and repro9/repro9 mutant testis at 14 and 17 days postpartum. Analysis revealed many misregulated genes, in majority downregulated, at day 14 pp and even more at day 17 pp, probably due to secondary effects of meiotic arrest. Significantly misregulated genes were characterized by Gene Ontology. Comparative gene expression analysis uncovered potential targets of MYBL1 regulation that play roles in regulation of transcription, cell cycle, apoptosis, protein phosphorylation and ubiquitination, chromosome organization and others.

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