Affinage

DAZL

Deleted in azoospermia-like · UniProt Q92904

Length
295 aa
Mass
33.2 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-09
100 papers in source corpus 34 papers cited in narrative 34 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 9/9 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

DAZL is a germ cell-specific cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein that acts as a master post-transcriptional regulator of gametogenesis, essential for germ cell differentiation in both sexes (PMID:9288969). It recognizes its targets through sequence-specific binding to U-rich elements interspersed by G residues, with high-affinity recognition of a GUU triplet via its RRM, established by SELEX and crystal structures of the RRM bound to 3'-UTR RNA (PMID:11410654, PMID:22021443); multiple DAZL molecules can load onto a single RNA bearing several GUU/UGUU motifs, with the copy number of bound DAZL tuning the regulatory output (PMID:22021443, PMID:26826184). Mechanistically, DAZL stimulates translation initiation by directly interacting with poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs), and it associates with actively translating polyribosomes through poly(A) RNA (PMID:16001084, PMID:10819768, PMID:31355046). Transcriptome-wide CLIP studies define thousands of testicular and spermatogonial mRNA targets bound at poly(A)-proximal 3'-UTR sites, and loss of DAZL selectively depletes target transcripts from polysomes, reducing spermatogenic protein output and arresting development (PMID:31355046, PMID:30380414, PMID:32686646). Validated translational targets span the gametogenic program — Mvh, Sycp3, Tex19.1, SYCP1, TEX11, and SMC1B — linking DAZL to synaptonemal complex assembly, cohesion, and meiotic progression (PMID:16278232, PMID:17526644, PMID:28364521). Depending on cellular context DAZL can either activate or repress translation: in oocytes it cooperates synergistically with CPEB1 to drive translation of maternal mRNAs during meiotic re-entry and is required for meiotic spindle formation and maturation (PMID:21460039, PMID:26826184, PMID:32170089), whereas in nascent PGCs and ESCs it represses pluripotency and pro-apoptotic factors (PMID:25418731). At the developmental level DAZL is required for the 'licensing' transition that enables PGCs to respond to sex-specific gonadal cues, and for A-aligned to A1 spermatogonial differentiation (PMID:21504946, PMID:11514340). Beyond translational control, DAZL binds the loops of precursor miRNAs at GUU motifs and enhances DICER processing to upregulate mature miRNAs including let-7, restraining germ cell proliferation (PMID:36273819). DAZL is itself tightly regulated: its germ cell-restricted expression is enforced by promoter CpG methylation that blocks Sp1 binding in somatic cells (PMID:19281782), and its abundance is suppressed post-transcriptionally by NANOS2 in male germ cells and via 3'-UTR-dependent repression in follicular oocytes (PMID:27072294, PMID:29883445).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 13 steps
  1. 1997 High

    Establishing whether DAZL is required for germline development at all, the knockout defined it as essential for germ cell differentiation and gamete production.

    Evidence Dazla gene knockout mouse with germ cell immunolocalization

    PMID:9288969

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not define molecular function or RNA targets
    • Did not distinguish proliferation versus differentiation block
  2. 2000 Medium

    To place DAZL on the translation machinery, it was shown to associate with translating polyribosomes via poly(A) RNA and to self-associate and recruit accessory RNA-binding proteins.

    Evidence Sucrose gradient sedimentation, oligo(dT) capture, yeast two-hybrid and domain mapping (DAZAP1/DAZAP2)

    PMID:10819768 PMID:10857750 PMID:10903443

    Open questions at the time
    • Polyribosome association did not establish activation versus repression
    • DAZAP1/DAZAP2 interactions not confirmed by orthogonal methods or functional consequence
  3. 2001 High

    Defining the RNA recognition code and the precise spermatogenic lesion, DAZL was shown to bind (GUn)n motifs and to act at the A-aligned-to-A1 spermatogonial differentiation step rather than at proliferation.

    Evidence SELEX, yeast tri-hybrid screen; histology with BrdU, mitotic index and c-Kit staining of KO testis

    PMID:11410654 PMID:11514340

    Open questions at the time
    • SELEX consensus not yet resolved at single-triplet structural level
    • Direct targets driving differentiation arrest not identified
  4. 2005 High

    Connecting binding to function, DAZL was shown to stimulate translation initiation by directly recruiting PABPs and to bind and translationally activate specific mRNAs such as Mvh in vivo.

    Evidence Xenopus oocyte translation and tethered-function assays, co-IP, in vivo RIP-microarray and KO mouse validation

    PMID:16001084 PMID:16278232

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not explain context-dependent repression
    • Full target repertoire not yet mapped
  5. 2006 Medium

    Addressing how DAZL-bound mRNAs are spatially organized, DAZL was found to interact with dynein light chain and to localize and transport bound mRNAs in a microtubule-dependent manner.

    Evidence Co-IP, immunofluorescence with microtubule disruption, subcellular fractionation

    PMID:16946704

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab, dynein interaction not reciprocally validated
    • Functional importance of transport for gametogenesis untested
  6. 2007 High

    Extending the validated target set into meiosis, Sycp3 was identified as an in vivo translational target whose protein levels depend on DAZL.

    Evidence RNA binding and in vitro translation assays plus KO mouse Western blot

    PMID:17526644

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not establish whether Sycp3 loss alone explains meiotic phenotype
  7. 2009 High

    Defining stage-specific roles in human germline and showing antagonism toward miRNA repression, DAZL was placed at PGC formation and shown to elongate poly(A) tails to relieve miR-430 repression and to stabilize HuB mRNA.

    Evidence siRNA/overexpression in hESC-derived germ cells; zebrafish GFP reporter and poly(A) tail assays

    PMID:19838299 PMID:19865085 PMID:21695151

    Open questions at the time
    • Zebrafish reporter findings are Medium-confidence and single-lab
    • Mechanism coupling DAZL to polyadenylation machinery not resolved
  8. 2011 High

    Providing the structural and oocyte-context basis of regulation, the RRM-RNA crystal structure resolved GUU triplet recognition, and DAZL was shown essential for meiotic spindle formation acting in a CPEB1-coupled pathway.

    Evidence X-ray crystallography with bound RNA and mutagenesis; polysome profiling, oocyte depletion, live spindle imaging

    PMID:21460039 PMID:21504946 PMID:22021443

    Open questions at the time
    • How copy number of bound DAZL is decoded into activation versus repression untested
    • Mechanism of licensing transition at the molecular target level not defined
  9. 2014 Medium

    Explaining context-dependent repression, DAZL was shown to block translation of pluripotency factors (Sox2, Sall4), Suz12 and caspases in nascent PGCs as a fail-safe against teratoma.

    Evidence Dazl-GFP reporter ESCs, mRNA/protein network analysis, translation assays

    PMID:25418731

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab; molecular switch between activation and repression not defined
  10. 2016 High

    Resolving the activation mechanism in oocytes, DAZL was shown to cooperate synergistically with CPEB1 on the Tex19.1 3'UTR in a manner dependent on DAZL loading and CPE features.

    Evidence Endogenous-mRNA polysome profiling, RBP depletion, 3'UTR mutagenesis, YFP reporters

    PMID:26826184

    Open questions at the time
    • Generalizability of CPEB1 cooperation across the maternal transcriptome not established here
  11. 2018 High

    Moving from individual targets to genome scale, transcriptome-wide CLIP defined thousands of 3'-UTR/poly(A)-proximal targets and showed DAZL loss selectively strips target mRNAs from polysomes, establishing it as a master translational regulator of spermatogenesis; DAZL was also shown to be suppressed by NANOS2 and by 3'UTR-dependent repression in oocytes.

    Evidence HITS-CLIP/CLIP-seq with polysome profiling and conditional KO; BAC transgenic 3'UTR deletion; conditional KO and overexpression mouse genetics

    PMID:27072294 PMID:29883445 PMID:30380414 PMID:31355046

    Open questions at the time
    • Determinants selecting which targets are activated versus repressed not defined
    • How NANOS2 antagonism is integrated with DAZL targeting unresolved
  12. 2020 High

    Demonstrating direct causality and dual regulatory output, recombinant DAZL rescued oocyte translation and maturation, while iCLIP/Ribo-seq in spermatogonia defined a UGUU(U/A) motif and showed DAZL increases ribosome occupancy and drives progenitor expansion and differentiation.

    Evidence Oocyte depletion with recombinant protein rescue, polysome profiling, 3'UTR mutagenesis; conditional KO with iCLIP and Ribo-seq

    PMID:32170089 PMID:32686646

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural or cofactor basis distinguishing repressed from activated targets still unresolved
  13. 2022 High

    Uncovering a translation-independent function, DAZL was shown to bind precursor-miRNA loops at GUU and enhance DICER cleavage, upregulating let-7 and restraining germ cell proliferation and tumor formation.

    Evidence Purified protein-RNA binding, DICER cleavage assay, miRNA profiling, proliferation and teratoma xenograft assays

    PMID:36273819

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab; in vivo contribution of miRNA-enhancing activity relative to translational role not quantified

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • What molecular feature or cofactor switches DAZL between translational activation and repression of overlapping GUU-bearing targets across germ cell stages remains unresolved.
  • No defined biochemical determinant of activation versus repression
  • Interplay among DAZL copy number, CPEB1, PUM2 and NANOS2 on shared mRNAs not reconstituted
  • Human in vivo function inferred largely from ESC and fetal gonad systems

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0003723 RNA binding 7 GO:0045182 translation regulator activity 6 GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 2 GO:0140098 catalytic activity, acting on RNA 1
Localization
GO:0005829 cytosol 2 GO:0005840 ribosome 1
Pathway
R-HSA-1474165 Reproduction 3 R-HSA-392499 Metabolism of proteins 3 R-HSA-8953854 Metabolism of RNA 3 R-HSA-1640170 Cell Cycle 2
Partners
CPEB1DAZAP1DAZAP2DICER1PABPC1PUM2RACK1

Evidence

Reading pass · 34 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
1997 Dazl protein is cytoplasmic in male and female germ cells; disruption of the Dazla gene leads to complete loss of germ cells and absence of gamete production in mice, demonstrating DAZL is essential for germ cell differentiation. Gene knockout mouse model, immunolocalization Nature High 9288969
2005 DAZL family proteins (Xdazl, mouse Dazl, human DAZL, DAZ, BOULE) stimulate translation at the level of initiation by directly interacting with poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs); tethered function and mapping experiments support physiological relevance of DAZL-PABP interaction. Xenopus oocyte translation assay, co-immunoprecipitation, tethered function assay, domain mapping The EMBO journal High 16001084
2005 Murine Dazl protein binds specific mRNAs in vivo (identified by immunoprecipitation + microarray), including Mvh mRNA, and stimulates translation via the Mvh 3'-UTR; Dazl null mice show reduced MVH protein levels, indicating Dazl-mediated translational regulation of Mvh is crucial for spermatogenesis. In vivo RNA immunoprecipitation, microarray, in vitro translation assay, Dazl knockout mouse analysis Human molecular genetics High 16278232
2001 Mouse Dazl binds oligo(U) stretches interspersed by G or C residues, with strongest interaction with the consensus (GUn)n motif, as determined by SELEX and a yeast tri-hybrid screen; CDC25C 5' UTR interacts specifically with Dazl in vitro. SELEX, yeast tri-hybrid screen, in vitro RNA binding assay Nucleic acids research High 11410654
2011 Crystal structures of murine Dazl RRM alone and in complex with RNA from 3'-UTRs of regulated mRNAs reveal high-affinity sequence-specific recognition of a GUU triplet via an extended, kinked pair of β-strands; mutation of GUU bases reduces binding affinity; multiple Dazl RRMs can bind a single RNA containing multiple GUU triplets, suggesting copy number of bound DAZL modulates translation. X-ray crystallography, mutagenesis, in vitro RNA binding assay Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America High 22021443
2007 DAZL stimulates translation of Sycp3 (synaptonemal complex component) via the Sycp3 3'-UTR; Sycp3 protein levels are decreased in Dazl knockout mice, identifying Sycp3 as a biologically relevant in vivo translational target of Dazl. RNA binding assay, in vitro translation assay, Dazl knockout mouse analysis (Western blot) RNA (New York, N.Y.) High 17526644
2011 CPEB1 regulates Dazl post-transcriptionally; DAZL is essential for meiotic spindle formation and meiotic maturation in oocytes; in absence of DAZL, meiotic spindle fails to form due to disorganization of meiotic microtubules. CPEB1 and DAZL function in a progressive, self-reinforcing pathway to promote oocyte maturation. Polysome mRNA profiling, bioinformatics, mouse oocyte depletion experiments, live imaging of meiotic spindle Genes & development High 21460039
2011 In C57BL/6 mice, DAZL is required for 'licensing' — an active developmental transition that enables primordial germ cells (PGCs) to respond to feminizing or masculinizing cues from the gonad. Dazl-deficient PGCs migrate to the gonad normally but remain sexually undifferentiated; germ cell specification and migration are unaffected. In vivo genetic studies with Dazl-deficient C57BL/6 mice, germ cell marker analysis Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America High 21504946
2000 DAZL1 is associated with actively translating polyribosomes in mouse testis; this association is mediated through binding to poly(A) RNA, as demonstrated by oligo(dT) capture; DAZL1 and DAZ bind similarly to various RNA homopolymers in vitro. Sucrose gradient sedimentation, oligo(dT) bead capture, in vitro RNA binding Biology of reproduction Medium 10819768
2000 Mouse Dazl1 forms homodimers/heterodimers both in vivo and in vitro through a novel protein-protein interaction domain; this dimerization activity is RNA-independent. Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro binding assay, domain mutagenesis Gene Medium 10903443
2000 DAZL and DAZ interact with two novel proteins: DAZAP1 (a testis-enriched RNA-binding protein) and DAZAP2 (ubiquitously expressed), both binding through the DAZ repeats of DAZ/DAZL1. Yeast two-hybrid screen, domain mapping Genomics Medium 10857750
2006 DAZL interacts with the dynein light chain (a component of the dynein-dynactin motor complex); Dazl subcellular distribution is microtubule-dependent; selected Dazl-bound mRNAs accumulate in the perinuclear area, suggesting Dazl transports specific mRNAs via dynein motor complex. Co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence with microtubule disruption, subcellular fractionation The EMBO journal Medium 16946704
2009 DAZL relieves miR-430-mediated repression of germline mRNAs (nanos1, tdrd7) in zebrafish by inducing poly(A) tail elongation (polyadenylation), acting as an 'anti-miRNA factor' in PGCs. GFP reporter mRNA assay with tdrd7 3'UTR in zebrafish, poly(A) tail length analysis PloS one Medium 19838299
2009 Human DAZL functions in primordial germ cell formation from hESCs, whereas DAZ and BOULE promote later stages of meiosis and haploid gamete development; these functions established by silencing and overexpression of each gene in hESC-derived germ cells. siRNA knockdown, overexpression in human ESCs, germ cell reporter quantification and FACS isolation Nature High 19865085
2016 DAZL cooperates synergistically with CPEB1 to activate translation of maternal mRNAs during oocyte meiotic re-entry; both proteins interact with the Tex19.1 3'UTR and their cooperation depends on the number of DAZL molecules loaded and CPE characteristics. Ribosome loading (polysome profiling) on endogenous mRNAs, RBP depletion from oocytes, 3'UTR mutagenesis, YFP-3'UTR reporters Journal of cell science High 26826184
2012 DAZL is essential for stress granule (SG) formation in male germ cells; upon heat stress, DAZL translocates to SGs; in Dazl-knockout mice, SG assembly is significantly diminished. DAZL-containing SGs protect germ cells from heat stress-induced apoptosis by sequestering RACK1 and blocking the apoptotic MAPK pathway. Heat stress experiments, immunofluorescence for SG markers, Dazl-KO mouse analysis, RACK1 co-localization, apoptosis assays Development (Cambridge, England) Medium 22223682
2018 DAZL is a master translational regulator of spermatogenesis; genome-wide HITS-CLIP identifies at least 3008 testicular mRNA targets bound at the 3'-UTR; DAZL interacts with PABP; in absence of DAZL, polysome-associated target transcripts (but not total transcripts) are significantly decreased, causing reduction of spermatogenic proteins and developmental arrest. HITS-CLIP (high-throughput sequencing of RNAs isolated by cross-linking immunoprecipitation), mass spectrometry, polysome profiling, conditional Dazl knockout National science review High 31355046
2018 DAZL binds thousands of mRNAs via polyA-proximal 3' UTR interactions in vivo; DAZL deletion selectively reduces a subset of target mRNAs critical for germ cell proliferation and survival; polyA sequences have key roles in specifying DAZL-RNA interactions. Transcriptome-wide DAZL-RNA interaction mapping (CLIP-seq), FACS+RNA-seq on purified germ cells, integrative analysis Cell reports High 30380414
2020 DAZL functions as both translational repressor and activator during oocyte maturation; depletion causes block in maturation and widespread disruption of ribosome loading on maternal transcripts; injection of recombinant DAZL rescues translation and maturation to MII; mutagenesis of DAZL-binding sites in 3'UTRs mimics DAZL depletion. DAZL depletion in oocytes, ribosome loading assay (polysome profiling), recombinant protein rescue injection, 3'UTR mutagenesis, YFP reporters Nature communications High 32170089
2020 DAZL binds the 3' UTRs of ~2,500 protein-coding mRNAs in undifferentiated spermatogonia at a UGUU(U/A) motif in conserved sites; DAZL increases ribosome occupancy (translation) of its targets; absence of Dazl impairs both expansion and differentiation of spermatogonial progenitors. Conditional KO mouse, iCLIP, ribosome occupancy (Ribo-seq), chemical synchronization of spermatogenesis eLife High 32686646
1999 A human DAZ transgene partially rescues the Dazl null mouse phenotype (increased germ cell numbers, survival to pachytene), demonstrating functional conservation between DAZ and DAZL1 and confirming spermatogenic role of the DAZ gene product. Transgenic mouse complementation (YAC transgene in Dazl-/- background), histological analysis Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Medium 10393944
2000 In human testis, DAZL protein shows dynamic subcellular localization with a shift from nuclear to cytoplasmic distribution in spermatogonia; in rat testis and human ovary, DAZL is exclusively cytoplasmic. This nuclear localization in human male is not caused by DAZ protein (shown by marmoset and DAZ-deleted patient analysis) and is species-specific. Immunofluorescence in fetal and adult rodent and human specimens, marmoset testis (lacking DAZ genes), DAZ-deleted patient testis, transfection experiments Journal of andrology Medium 10819456
2014 DAZL blocks translation of core pluripotency factors (Sox2, Sall4) and Suz12 (a polycomb family member required for differentiation) in nascent PGCs; DAZL also associates with mRNAs of key Caspases and inhibits their translation, providing a fail-safe mechanism that prevents teratoma formation when DAZL is lost. Dazl-GFP reporter ESCs, mRNA/protein interactive network analysis, translation assays Stem cell reports Medium 25418731
2015 DAZL enhances translation of Tet1 mRNA (a catalyst of 5-hydroxylation of methyl-cytosine) in embryonic stem cells; DAZL associates with Tet1 mRNA; overexpression elevates TET1 protein and global hydroxymethylation; Dazl null mutation impairs 2i-mediated TET1 induction and hydroxymethylation. RNA immunoprecipitation, overexpression and Dazl null ESCs, quantitative hydroxymethylation assay, Western blot EMBO reports Medium 26077710
2016 NANOS2 suppresses Dazl mRNA via its 3'-UTR in male germ cells; removal of the Dazl 3'-UTR in XY germ cells stabilizes Dazl mRNA, resulting in elevated meiotic gene expression, abnormal cell cycle resumption, and impaired processing-body formation similar to Nanos2-KO phenotypes; NANOS2 acts as an antagonist of DAZL. BAC transgenic system, microarray, conditional 3'-UTR deletion, germ cell marker analysis Nature communications High 27072294
2018 DAZL is translationally suppressed in follicular oocytes in a 3'-UTR-dependent manner; this suppression begins concomitant with primordial follicle formation. Overexpression of DAZL in follicular oocytes causes defective pre-implantation development, demonstrating that 3'UTR-mediated translational suppression of DAZL is required for normal oocyte function. Follicular oocyte-specific Dazl KO, transgenic DAZL overexpression mouse, analysis of pup numbers and pre-implantation embryo development PLoS genetics Medium 29883445
2005 Human PUM2 and DAZL bind to overlapping RNA sequences; co-immunoprecipitation demonstrates the two proteins interact; both bind sequences in the 3'UTR of human SDAD1 mRNA, suggesting they co-regulate common target mRNAs. Coimmunoprecipitation, in vitro RNA binding, NRE sequence analysis Genomics Low 15607425
2009 DAZL (in zebrafish) promotes HuB mRNA stability and translation in germ cells via a 30-nucleotide element in the HuB 3'UTR, protecting the message from degradation. GFP/reporter assay in zebrafish, 3'UTR deletion analysis, DAZL knockdown/overexpression PloS one Medium 21695151
2013 Mouse DAZL protein binds the 3'UTR of Tex19.1 mRNA and represses Tex19.1 expression at the translational level, as confirmed by EMSA and luciferase reporter translation assay in zebrafish embryos. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), luciferase reporter assay (zebrafish embryo) Molecular biology reports Low 19247806
2013 A novel Dazl splice isoform (Dazl_Δ8) is expressed in pluripotent cell types and male germ cells; both Dazl_FL and Dazl_Δ8 function as translational repressors of Mvh, Oct3/4, and Sox2 in embryonic stem cells (opposite to their translation-stimulatory role in germ cells), confirmed by luciferase 3'UTR reporter assay. Alternative splicing analysis, overexpression and knockdown in ESCs, luciferase 3'UTR reporter assay, RNA-binding immunoprecipitation Biochimica et biophysica acta Medium 23298641
2017 DAZL stimulates translation of SYCP1, TEX11, and SMC1B via their 3'UTRs in the human fetal ovary; RNA immunoprecipitation identified 764 potential DAZL targets including genes for synaptonemal complex, cohesin, spindle checkpoint, and recombination; a mutant DAZL with impaired RNA binding fails to stimulate target translation. RNA immunoprecipitation followed by RNA-seq (human fetal ovary), 3'UTR-luciferase reporter assay, polysome profile analysis, RNA-binding mutant DAZL Molecular human reproduction High 28364521
2022 DAZL binds directly to the loops of precursor miRNAs with sequence specificity for GUU, enhancing their processing by DICER; this activity upregulates >100 mature miRNAs including let-7 family members, which in turn silence cell proliferation regulators including TRIM71, inhibiting hPGC proliferation and germline tumor formation. Co-localization studies, purified protein-RNA binding assay, DICER cleavage assay, miRNA profiling, cell proliferation and cell cycle assays, teratoma xenograft Nucleic acids research High 36273819
2008 DNA methylation regulates DAZL germ cell-specific expression; the DAZL promoter CpG island is unmethylated in germ cells but hypermethylated in somatic cells; in vitro methylation of the minimal promoter suppresses activity; the transcription factor Sp1 binds a conserved site in the DAZL core promoter, and methylation of CpG dinucleotides within this site inhibits Sp1 binding and promoter activity, as shown by ChIP in germ cells versus fibroblasts. Reporter assay, in vitro methylation, EMSA/gel shift, ChIP, demethylating agent treatment of fibroblasts Differentiation; research in biological diversity Medium 19281782
2001 The primary spermatogenic defect in Dazl-/- mice is failure of A-aligned (A_al) spermatogonia to differentiate into A1 spermatogonia; remaining A spermatogonia actively proliferate (BrdU incorporation, mitotic index) and are c-Kit positive, indicating the block is at differentiation not proliferation. Histological analysis, BrdU incorporation, mitotic index, c-Kit immunohistochemistry, tubular whole mounts Biology of reproduction High 11514340

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 100 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
1997 The mouse Dazla gene encodes a cytoplasmic protein essential for gametogenesis. Nature 505 9288969
2009 Human DAZL, DAZ and BOULE genes modulate primordial germ-cell and haploid gamete formation. Nature 390 19865085
2011 Genome-wide analysis of translation reveals a critical role for deleted in azoospermia-like (Dazl) at the oocyte-to-zygote transition. Genes & development 208 21460039
2007 Conserved and divergent patterns of expression of DAZL, VASA and OCT4 in the germ cells of the human fetal ovary and testis. BMC developmental biology 194 18088417
2005 The DAZL family proteins are PABP-binding proteins that regulate translation in germ cells. The EMBO journal 183 16001084
2011 Licensing of gametogenesis, dependent on RNA binding protein DAZL, as a gateway to sexual differentiation of fetal germ cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 155 21504946
2005 Dazl binds in vivo to specific transcripts and can regulate the pre-meiotic translation of Mvh in germ cells. Human molecular genetics 142 16278232
2005 Dazl deficiency leads to embryonic arrest of germ cell development in XY C57BL/6 mice. Developmental biology 139 16310179
1999 Post-transcriptional regulation of the meiotic Cdc25 protein Twine by the Dazl orthologue Boule. Nature cell biology 134 10559904
2013 Identification of nine new susceptibility loci for testicular cancer, including variants near DAZL and PRDM14. Nature genetics 132 23666240
2012 Divergent RNA-binding proteins, DAZL and VASA, induce meiotic progression in human germ cells derived in vitro. Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) 132 22162380
1996 The human autosomal gene DAZLA: testis specificity and a candidate for male infertility. Human molecular genetics 130 8968756
2001 Nature of the spermatogenic arrest in Dazl -/- mice. Biology of reproduction 129 11514340
2000 Identification of two novel proteins that interact with germ-cell-specific RNA-binding proteins DAZ and DAZL1. Genomics 113 10857750
2010 Incorrect DNA methylation of the DAZL promoter CpG island associates with defective human sperm. Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 110 20685756
2007 Translation of the synaptonemal complex component Sycp3 is enhanced in vivo by the germ cell specific regulator Dazl. RNA (New York, N.Y.) 100 17526644
1997 Gene sequence, localization, and evolutionary conservation of DAZLA, a candidate male sterility gene. Genomics 95 9143498
1996 A SPGY copy homologous to the mouse gene Dazla and the Drosophila gene boule is autosomal and expressed only in the human male gonad. Human molecular genetics 95 8968755
2009 Dazl functions in maintenance of pluripotency and genetic and epigenetic programs of differentiation in mouse primordial germ cells in vivo and in vitro. PloS one 93 19468308
1999 A human DAZ transgene confers partial rescue of the mouse Dazl null phenotype. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 93 10393944
2009 The DAZL and PABP families: RNA-binding proteins with interrelated roles in translational control in oocytes. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 90 19225045
2018 DAZL is a master translational regulator of murine spermatogenesis. National science review 88 31355046
2009 Dazl promotes germ cell differentiation from embryonic stem cells. Journal of molecular cell biology 80 19783541
2014 DAZL limits pluripotency, differentiation, and apoptosis in developing primordial germ cells. Stem cell reports 78 25418731
2016 DAZL and CPEB1 regulate mRNA translation synergistically during oocyte maturation. Journal of cell science 75 26826184
1998 The Dazh gene is expressed in male and female embryonic gonads before germ cell sex differentiation. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 75 9588208
2001 Expression of axolotl DAZL RNA, a marker of germ plasm: widespread maternal RNA and onset of expression in germ cells approaching the gonad. Developmental biology 73 11397009
2001 The RNA-binding specificity of the mouse Dazl protein. Nucleic acids research 73 11410654
2009 DAZL relieves miRNA-mediated repression of germline mRNAs by controlling poly(A) tail length in zebrafish. PloS one 71 19838299
2012 DAZL is essential for stress granule formation implicated in germ cell survival upon heat stress. Development (Cambridge, England) 70 22223682
1998 Biphasic subcellular localization of the DAZL-related protein boule in Drosophila spermatogenesis. Developmental biology 70 9882490
2015 DAZL Expression Explains Origin and Central Formation of Primordial Germ Cells in Chickens. Stem cells and development 68 26414995
2005 Identification and characterization of RNA sequences to which human PUMILIO-2 (PUM2) and deleted in Azoospermia-like (DAZL) bind. Genomics 68 15607425
2000 Association of the mouse infertility factor DAZL1 with actively translating polyribosomes. Biology of reproduction 65 10819768
2018 DAZL Regulates Germ Cell Survival through a Network of PolyA-Proximal mRNA Interactions. Cell reports 61 30380414
2005 DAZL expression in human oocytes, preimplantation embryos and embryonic stem cells. Molecular human reproduction 55 15879466
2020 The RNA-binding protein DAZL functions as repressor and activator of mRNA translation during oocyte maturation. Nature communications 54 32170089
2006 Dazl can bind to dynein motor complex and may play a role in transport of specific mRNAs. The EMBO journal 53 16946704
2009 Evolutionary conservation of Dazl genomic organization and its continuous and dynamic distribution throughout germline development in gynogenetic gibel carp. Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution 52 19504540
2011 Kinked β-strands mediate high-affinity recognition of mRNA targets by the germ-cell regulator DAZL. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 50 22021443
2006 Novel missense mutations of the Deleted-in-AZoospermia-Like (DAZL) gene in infertile women and men. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E 48 16884537
2006 Cloning and expression of medaka dazl during embryogenesis and gametogenesis. Gene expression patterns : GEP 47 16979959
2000 Loss of oocytes in Dazl knockout mice results in maintained ovarian steroidogenic function but altered gonadotropin secretion in adult animals. Endocrinology 47 11089564
2011 Differential conservation and divergence of fertility genes boule and dazl in the rainbow trout. PloS one 45 21253610
2004 Expression profiling of the developing testis in wild-type and Dazl knockout mice. Molecular reproduction and development 44 14648873
1998 Expression of DAZ (deleted in azoospermia), DAZL1 (DAZ-like) and protamine-2 in testis and its application for diagnosis of spermatogenesis in non-obstructive azoospermia. Molecular human reproduction 44 9783841
2009 Expression of Dazl and Vasa in turtle embryos and ovaries: evidence for inductive specification of germ cells. Evolution & development 42 19754709
2020 DAZL mediates a broad translational program regulating expansion and differentiation of spermatogonial progenitors. eLife 41 32686646
2002 Partial rescue of the Dazl knockout mouse by the human DAZL gene. Molecular human reproduction 41 12200456
2001 Expression patterns and transcript concentrations of the autosomal DAZL gene in testes of azoospermic men. Molecular human reproduction 41 11675467
1999 Human DAZL1 encodes a candidate fertility factor in women that localizes to the prenatal and postnatal germ cells. Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 41 10527983
2021 Zebrafish dazl regulates cystogenesis and germline stem cell specification during the primordial germ cell to germline stem cell transition. Development (Cambridge, England) 40 33722898
2013 Altered DNA methylation patterns of the H19 differentially methylated region and the DAZL gene promoter are associated with defective human sperm. PloS one 37 24015185
2010 Conserved expression pattern of chicken DAZL in primordial germ cells and germ-line cells. Theriogenology 35 20537692
2016 Dazl is a critical player for primordial germ cell formation in medaka. Scientific reports 34 27328644
2005 Variants in Deleted in AZoospermia-Like (DAZL) are correlated with reproductive parameters in men and women. Human genetics 34 16328470
2004 DAZL polymorphisms and susceptibility to spermatogenic failure: an example of remarkable ethnic differences. International journal of andrology 33 15595957
1997 A putative human male infertility gene DAZLA: genomic structure and methylation status. Molecular human reproduction 33 9294855
2016 Dazl is a target RNA suppressed by mammalian NANOS2 in sexually differentiating male germ cells. Nature communications 32 27072294
2009 Characterization of a Dazl-GFP germ cell-specific reporter. Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) 32 19133679
2000 Dynamic subcellular distribution of the DAZL protein is confined to primate male germ cells. Journal of andrology 32 10819456
2000 In vivo and in vitro analysis of homodimerisation activity of the mouse Dazl1 protein. Gene 32 10903443
2000 The DAZL1 gene is expressed in human male and female embryonic gonads before meiosis. Molecular human reproduction 31 10775651
2004 No association of the A260G and A386G DAZL single nucleotide polymorphisms with male infertility in a Caucasian population. Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 29 15520024
2008 An epigenetic mechanism regulates germ cell-specific expression of the porcine Deleted in Azoospermia-Like (DAZL) gene. Differentiation; research in biological diversity 28 19281782
2014 The roles of DAZL in RNA biology and development. Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. RNA 27 24715697
2004 Lack of the T54A polymorphism of the DAZL gene in infertile Italian patients. Molecular human reproduction 27 15220464
2001 Characterization of the mouse Dazap1 gene encoding an RNA-binding protein that interacts with infertility factors DAZ and DAZL. BMC genomics 27 11604102
2016 Is there a role for DAZL in human female fertility? Molecular human reproduction 26 26989066
2014 Association between DAZL polymorphisms and susceptibility to male infertility: systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Scientific reports 26 24717865
2009 Sterile testis complementation with spermatogonial lines restores fertility to DAZL-deficient rats and maximizes donor germline transmission. PloS one 25 19621088
2002 Presence of DAZL transcript and protein in mature human spermatozoa. Fertility and sterility 25 11872225
2006 A to G transitions at 260, 386 and 437 in DAZL gene are not associated with spermatogenic failure in Indian population. International journal of andrology 24 16573709
2013 A developmental stage-specific switch from DAZL to BOLL occurs during fetal oogenesis in humans, but not mice. PloS one 23 24086306
2015 Differential expression of fertility genes boule and dazl in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), a basal fish. Cell and tissue research 22 25592848
2013 Mouse Dazl and its novel splice variant functions in translational repression of target mRNAs in embryonic stem cells. Biochimica et biophysica acta 22 23298641
2011 HuB (elavl2) mRNA is restricted to the germ cells by post-transcriptional mechanisms including stabilisation of the message by DAZL. PloS one 22 21695151
2015 DAZL regulates Tet1 translation in murine embryonic stem cells. EMBO reports 21 26077710
2020 Suppressing Dazl modulates tumorigenicity and stemness in human glioblastoma cells. BMC cancer 20 32682409
2006 Association of DAZL haplotypes with spermatogenic failure in infertile men. Fertility and sterility 20 16730721
2001 Localization of a specific germ cell marker, DAZL1, in testicular germ cell neoplasias. Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 20 11956819
2017 RNA immunoprecipitation identifies novel targets of DAZL in human foetal ovary. Molecular human reproduction 19 28364521
2017 In silico analysis of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in human DAZL gene associated with male infertility. Systems biology in reproductive medicine 19 28388287
2016 Highly conserved epigenetic regulation of BOULE and DAZL is associated with human fertility. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 19 27358391
1999 Mice with Y chromosome deletion and reduced Rbm genes on a heterozygous Dazl1 null background mimic a human azoospermic factor phenotype. Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 19 10601091
2016 Overexpression of STRA8, BOULE, and DAZL Genes Promotes Goat Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro Transdifferentiation Toward Putative Male Germ Cells. Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) 18 27342271
2016 Over Expression of NANOS3 and DAZL in Human Embryonic Stem Cells. PloS one 18 27768780
2015 Gonad specific genes in Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar L.): characterization of tdrd7-2, dazl-2, piwil1 and tdrd1 genes. Gene 18 25668702
2011 DAZL 260A > G and MTHFR 677C > T variants in sperm DNA of infertile Indian men. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics 18 22329245
2008 Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and DAZL gene polymorphisms do not affect the age of menopause. Fertility and sterility 18 18178196
2005 Survey of the two polymorphisms in DAZL, an autosomal candidate for the azoospermic factor, in Japanese infertile men and implications for male infertility. Molecular human reproduction 18 16123080
1999 Existence of human DAZLA protein in the cytoplasm of human oocytes. Molecular human reproduction 18 10340994
2018 Requirement of the 3'-UTR-dependent suppression of DAZL in oocytes for pre-implantation mouse development. PLoS genetics 17 29883445
2012 A single-nucleotide polymorphism of the DAZL gene promoter confers susceptibility to spermatogenic failure in the Taiwanese Han. Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 17 22752612
2003 Spermatogenesis in testes of Dazl null mice after transplantation of wild-type germ cells. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 17 14611632
2022 DAZL regulates proliferation of human primordial germ cells by direct binding to precursor miRNAs and enhances DICER processing activity. Nucleic acids research 16 36273819
2014 Stage-dependent DAZL localization in stallion germ cells. Animal reproduction science 16 24746554
2009 DAZL binds to 3'UTR of Tex19.1 mRNAs and regulates Tex19.1 expression. Molecular biology reports 16 19247806
2009 Porcine DAZL messenger RNA: its expression and regulation during oocyte maturation. Molecular and cellular endocrinology 16 19540306
2000 The expression of DAZL1 in the ovary of the human female fetus. Fertility and sterility 16 10689024

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