Histone acetyltransferase KAT8 is essential for mouse oocyte development by regulating ROS levels

Proper oocyte development is critical for female fertility and requires timely and accurate control of gene expression. K (Lysine) Acetyltransferase 8 (KAT8), an important component of the X chromosome dosage compensation system in Drosophila, regulates gene activity by acetylating histone H4 preferentially at lysine 16. To explore the function of Kat8 during mouse oocyte development, we crossed Kat8flox/floxmice with Gdf9-Cre mice to specifically delete Kat8 in oocytes. Oocyte Kat8 deletion resulted in female infertility with follicle development failure in the secondary and preantral follicle stages. RNA-seq analysis revealed that Kat8 deficiency in oocytes resulted in significant down-regulation of antioxidant genes with a subsequent increase in reactive oxygen species. Intraperitoneal injection of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine rescued defective follicle and oocyte development resulting from Kat8 deficiency. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay indicated that KAT8 regulates antioxidant gene expression by direct binding to promoter regions. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that KAT8 is essential for female fertility by regulating antioxidant gene expression and identify KAT8 as the first acetyltransferase with an essential function in oogenesis.