Phosphorylation of the RNA-binding protein Dazl by MAPKAP kinase 2 regulates spermatogenesis.

Developing male germ cells are exquisitely sensitive to environmental insults such as heat and oxidative stress. An additional characteristic of these cells is their unique dependence on RNA-binding proteins for regulating posttranscriptional gene expression and translational control. Here we provide a mechanistic link unifying these two features.