Newly Identified Enzyme Enables Lifelong Sperm Production
The enzyme DOT1L, a stem cell self-renewal factor, has been found to be essential for mice to continue generating sperm throughout maturity, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania. Contrary to women who are born with all of their eggs, men may continue to produce sperm throughout their adult lives. They must continuously replenish the spermatogonial stem cells in order to produce sperm. This stem cell renewal is dependent on a recently discovered stem cell self-renewal component known as DOT1L, according to research by Jeremy Wang of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and associates. The researchers showed that DOT1L-deficient animals are unable to maintain spermatogonial stem cells, which impairs their capacity to continuously produce sperm. The discovery, which was published in the journal Genes and Development, brings the number of stem cell renewal factors that have already been found by researchers up to a few more. The fact that mice l...