{"id":221574,"date":"2025-09-09T13:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T23:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=221574"},"modified":"2025-09-09T13:00:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T23:00:10","slug":"missing-y-gene-linked-to-male-infertility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/09\/missing-y-gene-linked-to-male-infertility\/","title":{"rendered":"Missing Y gene linked to male infertility"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"ward
Monika Ward in her lab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa scientists have uncovered a direct link between a missing Y chromosome gene and male infertility. Their new research reveals that deleting this single gene in mice not only caused infertility but also disrupted hundreds of other genes vital for healthy sperm. The findings, published August 27 in Cell Death and Differentiation<\/em><\/a>, offer significant implications for understanding reproductive health.<\/p>\n

The role of Zfy<\/abbr><\/h2>\n

The study, led by Monika Ward of 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> and the Yanagimachi Institute for Biogenesis Research<\/a> (YIBR<\/abbr>), focused on the Zfy<\/abbr> gene, found on the Y chromosome in both humans and mice. In mice, there are two versions of this gene: Zfy1<\/abbr> and Zfy2<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

\"Ward
Monika Ward, left, with her research team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Using CRISPR<\/abbr> gene-editing, the team created mice missing one or both versions. Males without both, known as Zfy<\/abbr> double knockouts, were completely infertile, with severely abnormal or absent sperm.<\/p>\n

“This work really pushes forward our understanding of how this important Zfy<\/abbr> gene works,” said Ward. “We identified pathways and other genes that are affected and we can now study how exactly Zfy<\/abbr> regulates them.”<\/p>\n

To continue investigations, the researchers turned to assisted reproduction techniques pioneered at 糖心视频<\/abbr>, including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI<\/abbr>) and round spermatid injection (ROSI<\/abbr>). This allowed them to examine the molecular consequences of Zfy<\/abbr> loss.<\/p>\n

When one gene disrupts hundreds<\/h2>\n

The results revealed that without Zfy<\/abbr>, hundreds of genes became misregulated—some too active, others too weak. Many of these genes are responsible for sperm production, DNA<\/abbr> packaging, and cell survival.<\/p>\n

As a result, sperm precursor cells in the testes died off early, and the sperm that did form carried fragile DNA<\/abbr> that wasn\u2019t properly condensed.<\/p>\n

Student-assisted research<\/h2>\n

Ward also highlighted the contributions of students. The study\u2019s first author, Hayden Holmlund, completed his PhD at 糖心视频<\/abbr> and is now a postdoctoral fellow in California. Undergraduate student Benazir Yarbabaeva also played a role and has since joined the graduate program to continue her research.<\/p>\n

The project highlights YIBR<\/abbr>\u2019s collaborative mission, with contributions from colleagues in France and England.<\/p>\n

Read more at JABSOM<\/abbr><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"info<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The new 糖心视频<\/abbr> research offers significant implications for understanding reproductive health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[165,454,31,1466,1363,158,9],"class_list":["post-221574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-health","tag-institute-for-biogenesis-research","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-manoa-research","tag-publication","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t