NXT2 is a key component of the RNA nuclear export factor complex in the human testis and essential for spermatogenesis - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

NXT2 is a key component of the RNA nuclear export factor complex in the human testis and essential for spermatogenesis

Authors: Dicke, Ann-Kristin; Ahmedani, Ammar; Ma, Lin; Herrmann, Leonie; van der Heijden, Godfried W.; Koser, Sophie A.; Krallmann, Claudia; Kalyon, Oguzhan; Xavier, Miguel J.; Veltman, Joris A.; Kliesch, Sabine; Neuhaus, Nina; Kotaja, Noora; Tuettelmann, Frank; Stallmeyer, Birgit

Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO

Publishing place: BERLIN

Publication year: 2025

Journal: Nature Communications

Journal name in source: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

Journal acronym: NAT COMMUN

Article number: 6254

Volume: 16

Issue: 1

Number of pages: 17

eISSN: 2041-1723

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61463-0

Web address : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61463-0

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499251529

Abstract

In eukaryotes, the nucleocytoplasmic export of bulk poly(A)+-mRNAs through the nuclear pore complex is mediated by the ubiquitously expressed NXT1-NXF1 heterodimer. In humans, NXT1 has an X-chromosomal paralog, NXT2, which exhibits testis-enriched expression, suggesting a role in spermatogenesis. Here, we report the in vivo interaction of NXT2 with crucial components of the nuclear export machinery, including NXF1, the testis-specific NXF1 paralogs NXF2 and NXF3, and nuclear pore complex proteins. Binding to NXF2 and NXF3 is mediated by the NTF2-like domain of NXT2. By identifying infertile men with loss-of-function variants in NXT2 and NXF3, we link the impaired NXT2-NXF activity to disturbed germ cell development. The predominant absence of germ cells in men with NXT2 deficiency indicates its critical function already during fetal or first steps of germ cell development. In contrast, loss of NXF3 affects later stages of spermatogenesis, resulting in quantitatively and qualitatively impaired sperm production.

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Funding information in the publication:
The study was carried out within the frame of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) funded Clinical Research Unit ‘Male Germ Cells’ (CRU326, project no. 329621271, grants to F.T. and N.N.). F.T. was supported by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research Münster (IZKF, Tüt4/011/23). S.A.K. was supported by the Medical Faculty Münster’s ‘CareerS’ programme. N.K. was funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.