Summary

The foundation of spermatogenesis and lifelong fertility is provided by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs divide asymmetrically to either replenish their numbers (self-renewal) or produce undifferentiated progenitors that proliferate before committing to differentiation. However, regulatory mechanisms governing SSC maintenance are poorly understood. Here, we show that the CCR4-NOT mRNA deadenylase complex subunit CNOT3 plays a critical role in maintaining spermatogonial populations in mice. Cnot3 is highly expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia, and its deletion in spermatogonia resulted in germ cell loss and infertility. Single cell analyses revealed that Cnot3 deletion led to the de-repression of transcripts encoding factors involved in spermatogonial differentiation, including those in the glutathione redox pathway that are critical for SSC maintenance. Together, our study reveals that CNOT3 – likely via the CCR4-NOT complex – actively degrades transcripts encoding differentiation factors to sustain the spermatogonial pool and ensure the progression of spermatogenesis, highlighting the importance of CCR4-NOT-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation during male germ cell development.

Highlights

Cnot3 is predominantly expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia, and its expression decreases in later stages. Conditional deletion of Cnot3 leads to total germ cell loss and male infertility. CNOT3 represses transcripts encoding factors involved in spermatogonial differentiation. CNOT3 protects spermatogonial stem cells maintenance via GSH/redox pathway.

Graphical Abstract

Cnot3 promotes SSC self-renewal by balancing ROS production via the regulation of GSH production