Molecular Mechanisms of Y Chromosome Loss and UTY Gene Activity

The commentary discusses the molecular mechanisms and health implications of Y chromosome loss (LoY), focusing on the UTY gene's role. UTY, a paralog of UTX on the X chromosome, encodes a protein involved in transcription repression through interactions with TLE1 and RUNX1. The loss of UTY disrupts these interactions, potentially leading to immature T cells and contributing to diseases like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The commentary highlights the need for further research into UTY's functions and interactions, particularly its demethylase activity and the potential compensatory role of KDM6B on chromosome 17. The authors emphasize that understanding these mechanisms could provide insights into the broader health impacts of LoY in males.