Meisetz, a novel histone tri-methyltransferase, regulates meiosis-specific epigenesis

Meiosis is a specialized cell division that is essential to reduce the ploidy of the genome and to generate genomic diversity in all sexually reproducing organisms. Our recent investigation revealed that the meiosis-specific histone methyltransferase Meisetz (Meiosis-induced factor containing PR/SET domain and zinc-finger motif) played an essential role on proper progression of meiotic prophase in mouse germ cell lineage. The finding also suggests that the germ cell lineage has a meiosis-specific epigenetic status that is different from that of the somatic cell lineage. This article reviews the function of Meisetz and prospects the epigenetic background allowing proper progression of meiosis in mouse germ cells.