Acrv1, encoding the acrosomal protein SP-10, is mainly expressed in the testis. It plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis, specifically in round and elongated spermatids, and may be involved in sperm-oocyte interactions during fertilization as it is an acrosomal matrix protein conserved among mammals [2,3].

Research on the mouse Acrv1 gene has revealed several important transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. The proximal promoter contains necessary cis-regulatory sequences, an insulator prevents its somatic cell expression, RNA II polymerase is loaded but paused in spermatocytes, and a 43-kDa transcriptional repressor binding protein (TDP-43) maintains this paused state in spermatocytes [1]. Additionally, in a study where 12 testis-enriched genes including Acrv1 were individually disrupted via the Nuclease technology system in male mice, it was found that Acrv1 disruption did not affect male fertility, suggesting that it may not be an individual essential gene for male fertilization [4].

In conclusion, Acrv1 is mainly associated with spermatogenesis and sperm-oocyte interactions. Although individual knockout of Acrv1 in male mice did not impact fertility, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of Acrv1 during spermatogenesis provide insights into understanding male infertility and related biological processes [1,4].

References:

1. Reddi, Prabhakara P. 2023. Transcriptional regulation of spatiotemporal gene expression within the seminiferous epithelium: Mouse Acrv1 gene as a model. In Andrology, 11, 904-910. doi:10.1111/andr.13410. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36793255/

2. Tang, A, Yan, Q, Sun, L, Gui, Y, Cai, Z. 2011. Developmental expression of ACRV1 in humans and mice. In Andrologia, 44, 16-22. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2010.01095.x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21488928/

3. Cruz, Anamaria, Sullivan, Derek B, Doty, Karen F, Canisso, Igor F, Reddi, Prabhakara P. 2020. Acrosomal marker SP-10 (gene name Acrv1) for staging of the cycle of seminiferous epithelium in the stallion. In Theriogenology, 156, 214-221. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.06.046. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32758798/

4. Suzuki, Akira, Yabuta, Norikazu, Shimada, Keisuke, Matzuk, Martin M, Ikawa, Masahito. 2024. Individual disruption of 12 testis-enriched genes via the Nuclease technology system does not affect the fertility of male mice. In Journal of reproductive immunology, 163, 104252. doi:10.1016/j.jri.2024.104252. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38697008/