Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are membraneless cytoplasmic condensates that dynamically assemble in response to various stressors and reversibly disassemble after stimulus removal; however, the mechanisms underlying SG dynamics and their physiological roles in germ cell development are elusive. Here, we show that SERBP1 (SERPINE1 mRNA binding protein 1) is a universal SG component and conserved regulator of SG clearance in somatic and male germ cells. SERBP1 interacts with the SG core component G3BP1 and 26S proteasome proteins PSMD10 and PSMA3 and recruits them to SGs. In the absence of SERBP1, reduced 20S proteasome activity, mislocalized valosin containing protein (VCP) and Fas associated factor family member 2 (FAF2), and diminished K63-linked polyubiquitination of G3BP1 during the SG recovery period were observed. Interestingly, the depletion of SERBP1 in testicular cells in vivo causes increased germ cell apoptosis upon scrotal heat stress. Accordingly, we propose that a SERBP1-mediated mechanism regulates 26S proteasome activity and G3BP1 ubiquitination to facilitate SG clearance in both somatic and germ cell lines.