RNA sequencing of Drosophila induced by A2 RNAi. Drosophila melanogaster

Successful completion is crucial for the perpetuation of the species. In Drosophila, the spermatid individualization is necessary to produce functional mature sperm, a process involving changes in mitochondrial structure and function. A2, a gene encoding a mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase, is highly expressed in male testes and plays a role in mitochondrial energy metabolism, but its molecular function has not been fully clarified. Here, our results indicated an important role of A2 in spermatid maturation. In A2 knockdown testes, spermatid individualization complex (IC) composed of F-action cones exhibited a diffuse distribution, mature sperms in the seminal vesicle were absent, thus leading to a male sterility. The most striking effect of the A2 knockdown in spermatid maturation was a decrease in microtubules polyglycylation and formation of major and minor mitochondrial derivates were disrupted.