Kong Hao, Yin Yufeng, Zeng Ni, Zhu Yunfei, Cui Yiqiang
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
PeerJ. 2025 Jul 30;13:e19794. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19794. eCollection 2025.
Ring finger motifs are found in a variety of proteins with diverse functions, often involved in protein-DNA or protein-protein interactions. The -encoded protein contains two such motifs and is predominantly expressed in the testes and ovaries, suggesting that its expression may be regulated by elements within the promoter region. is active during spermatogenesis, mainly in spermatocytes and spermatids, indicating a potential role in sperm development.
We established an knockout ( ) mouse model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Gene expression was analyzed reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Testicular and epididymal phenotypes were assessed through histological and immunofluorescence staining, and fertility and sperm motility were evaluated.
Here, we successfully established an knockout mouse model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Surprisingly, male mice exhibited normal fertility, with no significant differences in testicular and epididymal histology, spermatogenesis, sperm count, or motility compared to mice. These findings suggest that may not be essential for male fertility in mice, and its potential functions warrant further investigation.
无名指基序存在于多种具有不同功能的蛋白质中，通常参与蛋白质 - DNA 或蛋白质 - 蛋白质相互作用。该编码蛋白包含两个这样的基序，主要在睾丸和卵巢中表达，这表明其表达可能受启动子区域内元件的调控。在精子发生过程中具有活性，主要存在于精母细胞和精子细胞中，表明其在精子发育中可能发挥潜在作用。
我们使用 CRISPR/Cas9 技术建立了一个基因敲除（）小鼠模型。通过逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）分析基因表达。通过组织学和免疫荧光染色评估睾丸和附睾的表型，并评估生育能力和精子活力。
在此，我们使用 CRISPR/Cas9 技术成功建立了一个基因敲除小鼠模型。令人惊讶的是，雄性基因敲除小鼠表现出正常的生育能力，与野生型小鼠相比，在睾丸和附睾组织学、精子发生、精子数量或活力方面没有显著差异。这些发现表明该基因可能对小鼠雄性生育能力并非必不可少，其潜在功能值得进一步研究。
