Genetic Dissection of the AZF Regions of the Human Y Chromosome: Thriller or Filler for Male (in)fertility?

Overview

Journal J Biomed Biotechnol

Specialty Biology

Date 2010 Jul 31

PMID 20671934

Citations 42

Authors

Paulo Navarro-Costa

Carlos E Plancha

Joao Goncalves

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The azoospermia factor (AZF) regions consist of three genetic domains in the long arm of the human Y chromosome referred to as AZFa, AZFb and AZFc. These are of importance for male fertility since they are home to genes required for spermatogenesis. In this paper a comprehensive analysis of AZF structure and gene content will be undertaken. Particular care will be given to the molecular mechanisms underlying the spermatogenic impairment phenotypes associated to AZF deletions. Analysis of the 14 different AZF genes or gene families argues for the existence of functional asymmetries between the determinants; while some are prominent players in spermatogenesis, others seem to modulate more subtly the program. In this regard, evidence supporting the notion that DDX3Y, KDM5D, RBMY1A1, DAZ, and CDY represent key AZF spermatogenic determinants will be discussed.

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