Studies of Y chromosome evolution often emphasize gene loss, but this loss has been counterbalanced by addition of new genes. The DAZ genes, which are critical to human spermatogenesis, were acquired by the Y chromosome in the ancestor of Old World monkeys and apes. We and our colleagues recently sequenced the rhesus macaque Y chromosome, and comparison of this sequence to human and chimpanzee ...

Deletion of the Azoospermia Factor (AZF) region of the human Y chromosome results in spermatogenic failure. While the identity of the critical missing gene has yet to be established, a strong candidate is the putative RNA-binding protein DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia). Here we describe the mouse homolog of DAZ. Unlike human DAZ, which is Y-linked, in mouse the Dazh (DAZ homolog) gene maps to chro...

We have identified a localized RNA component of Xenopus germ plasm. This RNA, Xdazl (Xenopus DAZ-like), encodes a protein homologous to human DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia), vertebrate DAZL and Drosophila Boule proteins. Human males deficient in DAZ have few or no sperm and boule mutant flies exhibit complete azoospermia and male sterility. Xdazl RNA was detected in the mitochondrial cloud and ve...

We report the discovery of excess K-band radiation from a metal-rich DAV white dwarf star, WD1150-153. Our near infrared spectroscopic observations show that the excess radiation cannot be explained by a (sub)stellar companion, and is likely to be caused by a debris disk similar to the other DAZ white dwarfs with circumstellar debris disks. We find that the fraction of DAZ white dwarfs with det...

infections, varicocele, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, chromosome abnormalities, and obstruction or agenesia of the seminal ducts. The study was designed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and its last modification (Tokyo 2004) on human experimentation, and it was approved by the Ethics Committees from Universidad Maimónides and the Centro de Estudios en Genética y Reproducción. Inform...

Oxidation of cysteine to sulfenic acid has emerged as a biologically relevant post-translational modification with particular importance in redox-mediated signal transduction; however, the identity of modified proteins remains largely unknown. We recently reported DAz-1, a cell-permeable chemical probe capable of detecting sulfenic acid modified proteins directly in living cells. Here we descri...

Background and aims: Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2007-2010 were used to evaluate factors that affect observed variability in urinary phytoestrogens. Methods: Data for six phytoestrogen variables, namely, daidzein (DAZ), o-desmethylangolensin (DMA), equol (EQU), enterodiol (ETD), enterolactone (ETL), and genistein (GNS) were available for analyses. Regression m...

T presence of a dedicated germline, a population of cells that give rise exclusively to gametes, is a unique feature of animal development. Despite variation in the timing of germ cell determination (1, 2) and in the details of lineage and migration by which they populate the gonad, numerous germline genes are conserved across the bilaterian phyla. It is therefore likely that biologists of toda...

Using a monoclonal antibody raised against Xenopus Daz-like protein (Xdazl), we showed that Xdazl is present in all stages of male and female germ cells except mature spermatozoa. Xdazl is not localized to any specific regions in early-stage embryos, in contrast to the strict localization of its mRNA in the germ plasm. Xdazl disappears after gastrulation but reappears in the primordial germ cel...

Objective To develop a multiplex PCR protocol for routine screening of microdeletions on the Y chromosome Methods Five multiplex sets were established and Y chromosome microdeletions screening were carried out in 26 azoospermic men who undertook ICSI and 30 azoospermic men who undertook testicular biopsy. Results In 56 azoospermic men, 5 patients were found with AZFc/DAZ microdeletions, 2 patie...