MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London

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Weibel-Palade bodies and Golgi apparatus

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James Turner group project:

The effects of MSCI on the evolution of X chromosome genes

MSCI has profound effects on the distribution of spermatogenesis genes on mammalian X chromosomes. Genes expressed before MSCI initiates - during the spermatogonial divisions, are over-represented on the X chromosome. However, genes expressed during and after meiosis are depleted on the X chromosome. It has been suggested that the absence of meiotic and post-meiotic genes on the X chromosome is due to MSCI and its after effects in spermiogenesis.

We have recently identified many genes on the X chromosome that contravene this dogma - many of these appear to be multiple-copy and this suggests that gene amplification may allow genes to escape X chromosome repression. These multiple-copy genes dominate the X chromosome - for instance in the mouse, at least 18% of all protein-coding genes are multiple-copy and show expression predominantly during late spermatogenesis.

We are now examining how multiple-copy genes escape X chromosome repression. We are also examining the conservation of these genes across different species, and the roles of these genes in spermatogenesis.