BOULE is Essential for the Dynamic Disassembly of Heat Shock Granules in Male Germ Cells

ABSTRACT Heat shock triggers stress granule (SG) formation, yet their dynamics in mammalian germ cells remain unclear. Through systematic analysis, we uncovered distinct heat shock granule (HSG) composition and stage‐specific assembly/disassembly in the mouse testis. Ribosome profiling revealed that germ cells selectively sustain translation of spermatogenic genes during heat shock. We identified that the germ cell‐specific RNA‐binding protein BOULE is essential for HSG clearance. BOULE deficiency under heat shock impairs HSG disassembly, with increased germ cell apoptosis and a disrupted ubiquitinome. Mechanistically, BOULE orchestrates HSG clearance through a two‐pronged mechanism. It post‐transcriptionally maintains the expression of the disassembly factors G3BP1 and FAF2. Additionally, BOULE promotes heat‐shock‐induced ubiquitination of G3BP1 by regulating the E3 ligase TRIM27, thereby recruiting the VCP/FAF2 complex. Our findings establish BOULE as a key regulator of proteostasis that coordinates HSG disassembly in germ cells, providing mechanistic insight into heat shock‐induced germ cell damage that may contribute to male infertility.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-08-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.77155
Primary Topic
Heat shock proteins research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

BOULE is Essential for the Dynamic Disassembly of Heat Shock Granules in Male Germ Cells

Zengming Li, Jun Tan, Liyun Cao, Baobao Geng et al.
Advanced Science
Heat shock proteins research
article

BOULE is Essential for the Dynamic Disassembly of Heat Shock Granules in Male Germ Cells

Zengming Li, Jun Tan, Liyun Cao, Baobao Geng, Zexin Bian, Xin Li, Peipei Liu, Nana Zhang, Yan Zhao
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Heat shock triggers stress granule (SG) formation, yet their dynamics in mammalian germ cells remain unclear. Through systematic analysis, we uncovered distinct heat shock granule (HSG) composition and stage‐specific assembly/disassembly in the mouse testis. Ribosome profiling revealed that germ cells selectively sustain translation of spermatogenic genes during heat shock. We identified that the germ cell‐specific RNA‐binding protein BOULE is essential for HSG clearance. BOULE deficiency under heat shock impairs HSG disassembly, with increased germ cell apoptosis and a disrupted ubiquitinome. Mechanistically, BOULE orchestrates HSG clearance through a two‐pronged mechanism. It post‐transcriptionally maintains the expression of the disassembly factors G3BP1 and FAF2. Additionally, BOULE promotes heat‐shock‐induced ubiquitination of G3BP1 by regulating the E3 ligase TRIM27, thereby recruiting the VCP/FAF2 complex. Our findings establish BOULE as a key regulator of proteostasis that coordinates HSG disassembly in germ cells, providing mechanistic insight into heat shock‐induced germ cell damage that may contribute to male infertility.

Advanced Science
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CN), Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital (CN), Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine (CN), Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (CN), Nanjing Medical University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Heat shock proteins research
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