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Sperm granules mediate epigenetic inheritance

Nature Cell Biology volume 24, pages 129–130 (2022)Cite this article

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Epigenetic inheritance is the transfer of non-DNA information across generations. A new study identifies sperm-specific PEI granules as essential for paternal epigenetic inheritance. PEI granule partitioning to sperm requires palmitoylation and myosin VI activity, suggesting lipidation-dependent granule transport on vesicles.

Gametes — oocytes and sperm — transmit DNA and other molecules, including proteins, RNA and metabolites, to offspring. The transmission of non-DNA information between generations is termed epigenetic inheritance and is important for adaptation of progeny to environmental conditions experienced by parents1. Epigenetic inheritance often involves the transmission of small RNAs (sRNAs) that act as guides for Argonaute proteins to facilitate both transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation. sRNAs loaded in oocytes and sperm target complementary transcripts in embryos. In the oocytes of Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans and zebrafish, Argonaute proteins localize to discrete cytoplasmic condensates (termed germ granules) that are thought to function as vehicles for the transmission of sRNA from parent to progeny2. Similar condensates have been observed during spermatogenesis3, but not in mature sperm, leaving open the question of how sperm transmit sRNAs. In this issue of Nature Cell Biology, Schreier et al.4 provide an answer: they identify a previously undescribed class of condensate in sperm, PEI granules, required for paternal epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans.

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Fig. 1: Membrane-tethered PEI granules partition to spermatids to mediate paternal epigenetic inheritance.

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  1. HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Laura Thomas & Geraldine Seydoux

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  1. Laura Thomas
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  2. Geraldine Seydoux
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Correspondence to Geraldine Seydoux.

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Competing interests

G.S. serves on the scientific advisory board for Dewpoint Therapeutics. L.T. declares no competing interests.

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Thomas, L., Seydoux, G. Sperm granules mediate epigenetic inheritance. Nat Cell Biol 24, 129–130 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-021-00832-5

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