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Fig. 9 | BMC Biology

Fig. 9

From: Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in spermatogenesis connects chromatin regulation with post-transcriptional control

Fig. 9

A proposed model for the mechanism and consequence of APA regulation in spermatogenesis. During maturation of spermatocytes into spermatids, chromatin becomes more open, leading to more transcriptional activities. Open chromatin and/or heightened transcription may create a more permissive cis environment for cleavage/polyadenylation (C/P). The enhanced C/P activity results in more usage of proximal pAs, leading to higher expression of short 3’UTR isoforms relative to long isoforms. Isoforms with short 3’UTRs avoid destabilizing cis elements in 3’UTRs, such as U-rich elements and TEs, which are potent during spermatogenesis. Stable isoforms are stored for translation after the spermatid stage when transcription is globally halted. Question marks indicate detailed mechanism(s) are not clear

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