# UBE2J2 is essential for the progression of meiosis prophase I during spermatogenesis in mice

## TL;DR

This study shows that UBE2J2 is crucial for meiosis during mouse spermatogenesis, and its absence leads to infertility due to meiotic arrest and disrupted protein regulation.

## Contribution

The study reveals a novel role for UBE2J2 in meiotic recombination and progression during spermatogenesis in mice.

## Key findings

- Ube2j2−/− mice exhibit azoospermia and meiotic arrest at the mid-pachytene stage.
- UBE2J2 deficiency leads to unstable homologous recombination complexes and failed crossover formation.
- Proteomic analysis shows unexpressed meiosis- and chromosome segregation–related proteins in Ube2j2−/− spermatocytes.

## Abstract

The coordination of numerous proteins is necessary for spermatogenesis, including degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Ubiquitin binding enzyme E2 (UBE2J2) is involved in the degradation of endoplasmic reticulum-associated proteins, while its role in spermatogenesis remains unclear. We found that Ube2j2−/− mice exhibit azoospermia and spermatocytes undergo meiotic arrest at the mid-pachytene stage. Examining homologous recombination (HR) markers indicated that HR intermediate complexes are unstable and fail to form crossovers in Ube2j2−/− spermatocytes. Proteomics analysis uncovered an extensive suite of meiosis- and chromosome segregation–associated proteins unexpressed in mouse spermatocytes lacking functional UBE2J2. Our findings suggest that UBE2J2 could possibly play a key role in SC disassembly, ensuring meiosis can proceed in the late pachynema during male germline cell development in mice, and serves as an essential factor in meiotic recombination and spermatogenesis.

•Ube2j2 knockout results in azoospermia in male mice•Spermatocytes undergo meiotic arrest at mid-pachynema in Ube2j2−/− knockout mice•Ube2j2−/− spermatocytes show obvious proteomic dysregulation

Ube2j2 knockout results in azoospermia in male mice

Spermatocytes undergo meiotic arrest at mid-pachynema in Ube2j2−/− knockout mice

Ube2j2−/− spermatocytes show obvious proteomic dysregulation

Molecular biology; Cell biology; Organizational aspects of cell biology