AUTHOR=Li Yinchuan , Mi Panpan , Chen Xue , Wu Jiabao , Liu Xiaohua , Tang Yunge , Cheng Jinmei , Huang Yingying , Qin Weibing , Cheng C. Yan , Sun Fei TITLE=Tex13a Optimizes Sperm Motility via Its Potential Roles in mRNA Turnover JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.761627 DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.761627 ISSN=2296-634X ABSTRACT=

mRNAs have been found to undergo substantial selective degradation during the late stages of spermiogenesis. However, the mechanisms regulating this biological process are unknown. In this report, we have identified Tex13a, a spermatid-specific gene that interacts with the CCR4–NOT complex and is implicated in the targeted degradation of mRNAs encoding particular structural components of sperm. Deletion of Tex13a led to a delayed decay of these mRNAs, lowered the levels of house-keeping genes, and ultimately lowered several key parameters associated with the control of sperm motility, such as the path velocity (VAP, average path velocity), track speed (VCL, velocity curvilinear), and rapid progression.