A loss-of-function variant in DNA mismatch repair gene MLH3 underlies severe oligozoospermia

Male infertility pertains to male's inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female. It accounts for 40-50% of infertility in human. In the study, presented here, a large consanguineous family of Pakistani origin segregating male infertility in autosomal recessive manner was investigated. Exome sequencing revealed a homozygous frameshift variant [NM_001040108: c.3632delA, p.(Asn1211Metfs*49)] in DNA mismatch repair gene MLH3 (MutL Homolog) that segregated with male infertility within the family. This is the first loss-of-function homozygous variant in the MLH3 gene causing severe oligozoospermia leading to male infertility. Previous studies have demonstrated association of infertility with gene knockout in the mice.