REGULATION OF GENE-EXPRESSION DURING SPERMATOGENESIS

Spermatogenesis occurs in successive mitotic, meiotic and post-meiotic phases and genes expressed during this process encode proteins necess ary for processes specific to the different phases of germ cell develo pment. Some genes encode proteins with essential roles in structures o r functions specific to spermatogenic cells, are expressed in developm entally regulated patterns and are transcribed only in, or produce mRN As unique to, spermatogenic cells. They are referred to as chauvinist genes, because male germ favor their expression with such strong preju dice. The expression of these genes is influenced by extrinsic cues, b ut is determined primarily by the intrinsic genetic program of spermat ogenic cells. These processes are subject to transcriptional, translat ional and post-translational regulation. However, many aspects of the mechanisms regulating gene expression in spermatogenic cells remain to be determined.