Adenylation by testis-specific cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase, PAPOLB/TPAP, is essential for spermatogenesis

The testis-specific cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase PAPOLB/TPAP is essential for spermatogenesis. Although this enzyme is responsible for poly(A) tail extension of a subset of mRNAs in round spermatids, the stability and translational efficiency of these mRNAs are unaffected by the absence of PAPOLB. To clarify the functional importance of this enzyme's adenylation activity, we produced PAPOLB-null mice expressing a polyadenylation-defective PAPOLB mutant, (pApoLB(D114A),)in which the catalytic Asp at residue 114 was mutated to Ala. Introducing PAPOLB(D114A) failed to rescue PAPOLB-null phenotypes, such as reduced expression of haploid-specific mRNAs, spermiogenesis arrest, and male infertility. These results suggest that PAPOLB regulates spermatogenesis through its adenylation activity.