A DNA-Organizing Protein Offers New Insight into Infertility, IVF and Generational Health
Proper Folding of DNA Inside the Tiny Sperm is Crucial for Fertility
The causes of male infertility can be hard to diagnose, with many tests failing to detect genetic defects. Sometimes, infertility doesn’t even involve the genes themselves. It can arise from improper folding of the father’s DNA in the sperm. If a couple conceives, this mispackaged DNA can damage the lifelong health of the child.
“Paternal health is critical to sperm quality and the health of the offspring,” said Satoshi Namekawa, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics. “Understanding the packing and folding of DNA in sperm cells is a fundamental question in modern biology.”
Namekawa and Yu-Han Yeh, a Ph.D. student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, have now unveiled an important new piece of this puzzle. They have identified a protein, called DAXX, that guides how sperm DNA is organized. DAXX silences thousands of genes so they don’t interfere with reproduction. It also keeps a handful of crucial genes turned on – shaping the delicate, early stages of embryonic development. The work was published recently in Genes & Development.
This discovery could shed light on the causes of male infertility. It could improve treatments for couples who are struggling to have children. And in the long run, it might even help biologists understand how the father’s health and exposure to chemicals can damage the health of future generations.