A novel homozygous variant of AURKC causes macrozoospermia in a Chinese family

Macrozoospermia is a rare cause of male infertility characterized by a high proportion of sperm with large, irregular heads. In this study, we identified a novel homozygous Aurora kinase C (AURKC) missense variant (c.253G > A (p.Glu85Lys)) in a Chinese infertile man using whole-exome sequencing. Segregation of the AURKC c.253G > A variant within the family was confirmed by Sanger sequencing, and In silico prediction tools suggested that the variant is pathogenic. Sperm ultrastructural abnormalities in the patient were further examined using transmission electron microscopy. Our findings identify a novel pathogenic AURKC variant associated with macrozoospermia, providing potential value for genetic diagnosis and clinical management.