MFN2 Plays a Distinct Role from MFN1 in Regulating Spermatogonial Differentiation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.03.024
• Publication Date: 2020-04-23T14:35:54Z
• Authors: Wei Chen; Yun Sun; Qi Sun; Jingjing Zhang; Manxi Jiang; Chingwen Chang; Xiaoli Huang; Chuanyun Wang; Pengxiang Wang; Zhaoran Zhang; Xuejin Chen; Yuan Wang
• Keywords: MFN2; MFN1

Although mitochondrial morphology is well-known for its role in cellular homeostasis, there surprisingly little knowledge on whether remodeling required postnatal germ cell development. In this study, we investigated the functions of MFN1 and MFN2, two GTPases fusion, during early spermatogenesis. We observed increased MFN expressions along with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activities spermatogonial differentiation. Deletion either Mfn led to DNA oxidation apoptosis specifically differentiating spermatogonia spermatocytes, which turn caused male infertility. further found MFN2 regulated spermatogenesis by modulating both ER functions, a mechanism distinct from that MFN1. Defects development mutants were corrected at mitochondria or but not Our study thus reveals an essential requirement MFN-mediated coordination spermatogenesis, providing critical insights into determinants fertility.