Research article

Investigation of MYST4 histone acetyltransferase and its involvement in mammalian gametogenesis

Serge McGraw¹ , Guillaume Morin² , Christian Vigneault¹ , Pierre Leclerc² and Marc-André Sirard¹

¹  Département des Sciences Animales, Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

²  Département d'Obstétrique/Gynécologie, Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

author email corresponding author email

BMC Developmental Biology 2007, 7:123doi:10.1186/1471-213X-7-123

Published:	2 November 2007

Abstract

Background

Various histone acetylases (HATs) play a critical role in the regulation of gene expression, but the precise functions of many of those HATs are still unknown. Here we provide evidence that MYST4, a known HAT, may be involved in early mammalian gametogenesis.

Results

Although MYST4 mRNA transcripts are ubiquitous, protein expression was restricted to select extracts (including ovary and testis). Immunohistochemistry experiments performed on ovary sections revealed that the MYST4 protein is confined to oocytes, granulosa and theca cells, as well as to cells composing the blood vessels. The transcripts for MYST4 and all-MYST4-isoforms were present in oocytes and in in vitro produced embryos. In oocytes and embryos the MYST4 protein was localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Within testis sections, the MYST4 protein was specific to only one cell type, the elongating spermatids, where it was exclusively nuclear.

Conclusion

We established that MYST4 is localized into specialized cells of the ovary and testis. Because the majority of these cells are involved in male and female gametogenesis, MYST4 may contribute to important and specific acetylation events occurring during gametes and embryo development.