AZFa Y gene, DDX3Y, evolved novel testis transcript variants in primates with proximal 3´UTR polyadenylation for germ cell specific translation

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 8954
• Main Authors: Vogt, P. H., Rauschendorf, M-A., Zimmer, J., Drummer, C., Behr, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27-05-2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 3' Untranslated regions; 3' Untranslated Regions - genetics; 631/136; 631/181; 631/208; 631/337; Animals; Callithrix jacchus; Cell cycle; DEAD-box RNA Helicases - genetics; DEAD-box RNA Helicases - metabolism; DNA helicase; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Germ cells; Germ Cells - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Macaca mulatta; Male; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens - metabolism; multidisciplinary; Pan troglodytes; Polyadenylation; Polyadenylation - genetics; Positive selection; Primates; Primates - genetics; RNA helicase; S phase; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Testis - metabolism; Translation; Y chromosomes
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12474-0

Translational control is a major level of gene expression regulation in the male germ line.
DDX3Y
located in the AZFa region of the human Y chromosome encodes a conserved RNA helicase important for translational control at the G1-S phase of the cell cycle. In human, DDX3Y protein is expressed only in premeiotic male germ cells. In primates,
DDX3Y
evolved a second promoter producing novel testis-specific transcripts. Here, we show primate species-specific use of
a
lternative
p
oly
a
denylation (APA) sites for these testis-specific
DDX3Y
transcript variants. They have evolved subsequently in the 3´UTRs of the primates´
DDX3Y
transcripts. Whereas a distal APA site (PAS4) is still used for polyadenylation of most
DDX3Y
testis transcripts in
Callithrix jacchus
; two proximal APAs (PAS1; PAS2) are used predominantly in
Macaca mulatta
, in
Pan trogloydates
and in human. This shift corresponds with a significant increase of DDX3Y protein expression in the macaque testis tissue. In chimpanzee and human, shift to predominant use of the most proximal APA site (PAS1) is associated with translation of these
DDX3Y
transcripts in only premeiotic male germ cells. We therefore assume evolution of a positive selection process for functional
DDX3Y
testis transcripts in these primates which increase their stability and translation efficiency to promote its cell cycle balancing function in the human male germ line.