Male sterility and enhanced radiation sensitivity in TLS(-/-) mice

EMBO J. 2000 Feb 1;19(3):453-62. doi: 10.1093/emboj/19.3.453.

Abstract

TLS (also known as FUS) is an RNA-binding protein that contributes the N-terminal half of fusion oncoproteins implicated in the development of human liposarcomas and leukemias. Here we report that male mice homozygous for an induced mutation in TLS are sterile with a marked increase in the number of unpaired and mispaired chromosomal axes in pre-meiotic spermatocytes. Nuclear extracts from TLS(-/-) testes lack an activity capable of promoting pairing between homologous DNA sequences in vitro, and TLS(-/-) mice and embryonic fibroblasts exhibit increased sensitivity to ionizing irradiation. These results are consistent with a role for TLS in homologous DNA pairing and recombination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Chromosome Disorders
  • Embryo, Mammalian / radiation effects
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts
  • Genitalia / pathology
  • Genitalia / radiation effects
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infertility / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Radiation Tolerance / genetics*
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Ribonucleoproteins / genetics*
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Spermatozoa / pathology
  • Spermatozoa / radiation effects
  • Synaptonemal Complex / genetics
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors*
  • Testis / radiation effects
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • RNA