Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain 2 maintains spermatogonial self-renewal by promoting chromatin accessibility and mRNA stability

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain 2 (CHD2) is a chromatin remodeling factor involved in many developmental processes. However, its role in male germ cell development has not been elucidated. Here, we confirm that CHD2 expression is enriched in the male germline. In a heterozygous knockout mouse model of Chd2 (Chd2(+/−)), we demonstrated that Chd2 haploinsufficiency resulted in testicular developmental delay, an increased rate of abnormal sperm, and impaired fertility in mice. In vitro experiments in mouse spermatogonia showed that CHD2 knockdown inhibits spermatogonial self-renewal. Mechanistically, CHD2 maintains the enrichment of H3K4me3 in the Ccnb1 and Ccnd2 promotors, consequently promoting the transcription of Ccnb1 and Ccnd2. In addition, CHD2 interacts with the cleavage stimulation factor CSTF3 and upregulates the expression of OCT4 and PLZF by improving mRNA stability. This is the first study to reveal the role and mechanism of CHD2 in maintaining spermatogonial self-renewal.