小鼠睾丸生精细胞凋亡相关基因SRG2的分子克隆及其在隐睾中的表达特征

从已获得的在隐睾和正常睾丸对照中表达量有明显差异的EST片段(BE644542)入手,利用网上生物信息学克隆了SRG2基因全长,GenBank登录号为AF395083。从小鼠睾丸cDNA文库中分离出该基因完整阅读框cDNA,SRG2基因的cDNA全长为1088bp,为编码295个氨基酸、分子量为33579kD、等电点为9．64的蛋白质,与人类同源基因TSARG2相似性为78％,而与其他已知蛋白质无明显同源性。RT-PCR结果表明：该基因只在睾丸中有高表达。应用新型的分子信标检测该基因在不同时期隐睾中的mRNA表达水平,发现该基因呈明显上调,证明该基因在隐睾的发生发展中具重要作用。     

NYD-SP16, a novel gene associated with spermatogenesis of human testis

By hybridizing human adult testis cDNA microarrays with human adult and embryo testis cDNA probes, a novel human testis gene NYD-SP16 was identified. NYD-SP16 expression was 6.44-fold higher in adult testis than in fetal testis. NYD-SP16 contains 1595 base pairs (bp) and a 762-bp open reading frame encoding a 254-amino acid protein with 73% amino acid sequence identity with the mouse testis homologous protein. The NYD-SP16 gene was localized to human chromosome 5q14. The deduced structure of the NYD-SP16 protein contains one transmembrane domain, which was confirmed by GFP/NYD-SP16 fusion protein expression in the cytomembrane of the transfected human choriocarcinoma JAR cells, suggesting that it is a transmembrane protein. Multiple tissue distribution indicated that NYD-SP16 mRNA is highly expressed in the testes and pancreas, with little or no expression elsewhere. Further analysis of abnormal expression in infertile male patients revealed complete absence of NYD-SP16 in the testes of patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and variable expression in patients with spermatogenic arrest. Homologous gene expression in mouse testis was confirmed in spermatogenic cells by in situ hybridization. The results of cDNA microarray, in situ hybridization, and semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction in mouse testis of different stages indicated that NYD-SP16 expression is developmentally regulated. These results suggest that the putative NYD-SP16 protein may play an important role in testicular development/spermatogenesis and may be an important factor in male infertility.     

Cloning and characterization of a novel gene SRG-L expressed in late stages of mouse spermatogenic cells

Spermatogenesis is a continuum of spermatogoniarenewal and proliferation, meiosis, and spermiogenesisin mammalian. First the stem cells (primitive type A sper-matogonia) divide to preleptotene primary spermato-cytes, which develop to leptotene primary spermatocytes,zygotene primary spermatocytes, and pachytene anddiplotene primary spermatocytes in sequence. Then thediplotene primary spermatocytes go through two meioticdivisions, and produce round spermatids. Subsequently,round spermatids enter…     

MSJ-1, a New Member of the DNAJ Family of Proteins, Is a Male Germ Cell-Specific Gene Product

A cDNA encoding for a new member of the DnaJ protein family has been isolated by screening a mouse spermatogenic cell expression library. The full-length cDNA obtained by extension of the original clone with RT-PCR has been characterized with respect to its DNA sequence organization and expression. The predicted open reading frame encodes a protein of 242 amino acid residues whose sequence is similar to that of bacterial DnaJ proteins in the amino-terminal portion since it contains the highly conserved J domain which is present in all DnaJ-like proteins and is considered to have a critical role in DnaJ protein–protein interactions. In contrast, the middle and carboxyl-terminal regions of the protein are not similar to any other DnaJ proteins, with the exception of the human neuronal HSJ-1 with which displays a 48% identity in a 175-amino-acid overlap. Analysis of RNAs from a wide spectrum of mouse somatic tissues, including the brain, and from ovary and testis reveals that the gene is specifically expressed in testis only. Developmental Northern blot analysis of testis RNA from mice of different ages andin situhybridization on juvenile and adult testis sections demonstrate that the mRNA is first transcribed in spermatids. A similar pattern of expression is exhibited also in rat testis. Based upon all these observations, we have named this novel mouse gene, MSJ-1, for mouse sperm cell-specific DNAJ first homolog.     

一个新的睾丸特异表达基因的克隆及功能的初步分析

运用“数据库消减杂交”(digital differential display)方法来筛选人类睾丸特异表达新基因,获得了有差异显示的代表新基因的克隆重叠群。挑选其中一个克隆重叠群HS．326528进行多组织RT—PCR,初步获得该重叠群在人睾丸中有高表达。从该重叠群的IMAGE出发,采用生物信息学的方法快速克隆了一个人类新基因的全长cDNA序列,其全长1044bp,开放阅读框为214～529bp,定位于15q26．2,编码由105个氨基酸组成、分子量为11．7kD、等电点为10．09的一个碱性蛋白,该蛋白与已知蛋白无明显的同源性,克隆实验证明该基因的阅读框完全正确,RT—PCR和Northern blot显示该基因在人类睾丸中特异表达,实时PCR结果表明：该基因在成人睾丸中高表达,在精子中有中度表达,在胚胎睾丸中低表达,推测该基因与精子的生成有关,命名为SRG8(homo sapiens spermatogenesis—related gene 8)(GenBank登录号：AY489187),该基因编码的蛋白定位于细胞核。流式结果分析表明,SRG8基因能够促使HeLa细胞由S期向G2期的转变,从而加速细胞的分裂。这些结果表明SRG8基因可能在睾丸的发育及精子的形成过程中起重要的作用。     

运用数字差异展示方法克隆一个人类新的锌指蛋白基因ZNF474

运用数字差异展示方法,克隆一个与生精相关的睾丸高表达基因。借助公共ESTs数据库,利用DDD软件比较分析各种睾丸文库与其他组织或细胞系文库有差异表达的ESTs,成功克隆到一个在人类睾丸中高表达的新基因。结合实验获得新基因cDNA全长,该基因被国际人类基因命名委员会命名为ZNF474(GeneBank登陆号AY461732)。ZNF474的cDNA全长为1 972 bp,定位在5 q23.2。通过RT-PCR及测序验证,其开放阅读框的位置在377 bp~1 471 bp处,编码364个氨基酸,在氨基酸水平与小鼠同源基因有66%的一致性,而与其他已知蛋白质无明显同源性。Northern杂交分析显示ZNF474在成体睾丸组织特异高表达,卵巢组织弱表达,在多种其他组织中不表达,为单一转录本。原位杂交显示ZNF474基因在正常成人睾丸组织各级生精细胞、隐睾组织以及精原细胞癌组织中均有较高表达。综上考虑,推测ZNF474作为生殖细胞中特异的转录因子,对人类的精子发生和卵母细胞的发育可能起重要作用。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of SRG-L, a novel mouse gene developmentally expressed in spermatogenic cells

Full-length cDNA of a novel mouse gene upregulated in late stages of spermatogenic cells was cloned from mouse testis using overlapping RT-PCR and RACE. The mRNA of the gene was expressed mainly in diplotene/pachytene spermatocytes, round and elongating spermatids. We named this gene as SRG-L (Spermatogenesis Related Gene expressed in late stages of spermatogenic cells, GenBank Accession No. AY352586). The tissue-specific analysis showed a higher expression level in testis and spleen. The gene is mapped on chromosome 8q33.1 and contains 18 exons. The full-length of cDNA is 2,843 bp with an open reading frame (ORF) of 2,625 bp that encodes a 104 kDa protein (874 amino acids) with a putative transmembrane region. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that the SRG-L has two conserved regions, transglutaminase-like homologues domain and D-serine dehydratase domain, rich phosphorylation sites and methylation sites. The SRG-L protein was detected in diplotene/pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The results suggest that SRG-L may play definite roles regulating differentiation of germ cells during spermatogenesis, particularly during meiosis and spermiogenesis.     

Expression of a novel HsMCAK mRNA splice variant,tsMCAK gene,in human testis

Identification of specifically expressed genes in the adult or fetal testis is very important for the study of genes related to the development and function of the testis. In this study, a human adult testis cDNA microarray was constructed and hybridized with 33P-labeled human adult and embryo testis cDNA probes, respectively. After differential display analyzing, a number of new genes related to the development of testis and spermatogenesis had been identified. One of these new genes is tsMCAK. tsMCAK was expressed 2.62 folds more in human adult testis than fetal testis. The full length of tsMCAK is 2401 bp and contains a 2013 bp open reading frame, encoding a 671-amino-acid protein. Sequence analysis showed that it has a central kinesin motor domain and is homologous to HsMCAK gene of the somatic cells. Blasting human genome database localized tsMCAK to human chromosome 1P34 and further investigation showed that it is a splice variant of HsMCAK. The tissue distribution of tsMCAK was determined by RT-PCR and it is expressed highly and specifically in the testis. Southern blot studies of its expression in patients with infertility indicated its specific expression in spermatogenic cells and its correlation with male infertility. The above results suggested that tsMCAK is a candidate gene for the testis-specific KRPs and its specific expression in the testis was correlated with spermatogenesis and may be correlated with male infertility.     

A novel asparaginase-like protein is a sperm autoantigen in rats

A novel asparaginase-like protein (ALP) of spermatozoa was cloned from rat and human testis cDNA libraries on the basis of reactivity with antibodies produced after vasectomy. Although obstruction of the male reproductive tract is known to cause an immunologic response, few of the sperm antigens responsible for the generation of autoantibodies have been characterized. We are identifying proteins of interest by coring autoantigenic protein spots from two-dimensional (2-D) gels of rat sperm extracts and microsequencing them by mass spectrometry. The peptide sequences from ALP, a 28 kDa, pI 5.7 protein, matched to a single partial length rat EST. These peptide sequences were used to clone a cDNA encoding a novel 333 amino acid open reading frame. The new protein had a similarity to portions of L-asparaginases of plants (43%) and to glycosylasparaginases in animal cells (32%). Human ALP cDNA was subsequently cloned. It showed 77% identity to the rat ALP sequence and the gene, ASRGL1 (asparaginase-like 1), mapped to chromosome locus 11q12.3. Purified recombinant rat ALP (rALP), expressed in E. coli, was used to raise polyclonal antiserum in guinea pigs. Two observations verified that the correct protein had been cloned: 1) the anti-rALP antibody reacted with both rALP and rat sperm; and 2) post-vasectomy sera bound rALP. Anti-rALP antibody stained the midpiece of rat and human sperm coincident with staining by MitoTracker Green FM, suggesting that ALP is associated with the mitochondria. Northern analysis revealed that rat ALP message was abundantly expressed in the testis but was also present in heart, brain, liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney.     

Cloning, expression, and chromosomal mapping of a human ganglioside sialidase.

Here we report the cDNA sequence of a human ganglioside sialidase. The cDNA was isolated from a human brain cDNA library by screening with a 240 bp probe generated by polymerase chain reaction using primers based on the sequences of rat cytosolic and bovine membrane sialidases which we previously cloned. The 3.0 kb cDNA encodes an open reading frame of 436 amino acids containing a putative transmenbrane domain and an Arg-Ile-Pro and three Asp-box sequences characteristic of sialidases and showing overall 83% and 39% identities to the bovine and rat enzymes, respectively. Northern blot analysis revealed high expression in skeletal muscle and testis, but low level in kidney, placenta, lung, and digestive organs. Transient expression of the cDNA in COS-1 cells resulted in a 130-fold increase in sialidase activity compared to the control level, and the activity was found to be almost specific for gangliosides. Fluorescent in situ hybridization allowed the human sialidase gene localized to chromosome 11 at q 13.5.     

大鼠睾丸特异表达基因Ube1的分离鉴定及生物学特征

本研究采用抑制性消减杂交(suppression subtracfive hybridization, SSH)和cDNA快速扩增(rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE)技术从大鼠A型精原细胞和粗线期精母细胞中成功克隆出大鼠泛素激活酶(ubiquitin-activating enzyme)基因Ube1 (GenBank登录号EF690356).该基因序列全长3433 bp,其中开放阅读框有3171 bp,编码一个含1057个氨基酸的蛋白质.Blast比对显示,Ube1与小鼠泛素激活酶基因Ubely1的同源性为93%,与人泛素激活酶基因UBE1的同源性为82%.Ube1基因编码的蛋白质含泛素激活酶信号位点和泛素激活酶活化位点,这些位点也存在于人类和小鼠的泛素激活酶1中.RT-PCR分析显示,Ube1在睾丸中大量表达,而在心、肝、脾、肺、肾、肌肉、脑、卵巢中没有表达.荧光定量PCR分析不同生精细胞中Ube1的表达,显示Ube1在A型精原细胞中大量表达,在粗线期精母细胞、圆形精子细胞和支持细胞中微弱表达.以上结果提示,Ube1是大鼠睾丸特异表达基因,可能通过参与泛素/蛋白酶体途径来影响精子发生.     

Identification of a heat-shock protein Hsp40, DjB1, as an acrosome- and a tail-associated component in rodent spermatozoa

Iba1 is a 17-kDa EF-hand protein highly expressed in the cytoplasm of elongating spermatids in testis. Using Iba1 as a bait, we performed yeast Two-hybrid screening and isolated a heat-shock protein Hsp40, DjB1, from cDNA library of mouse testis. To characterize DjB1 that is encoded by Dnajb1 gene, we carried out immunoblot analyses, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Immunoblot analyses showed that DjB1was constitutively expressed in mouse testis and that its expression level was not changed by heat shock. Dnajb1 mRNA was exclusively expressed in spermatocytes and round spermatids in mouse testis, and Dnajb1 protein DjB1 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes, round spermatids, and elongating spermatids. In mature mouse spermatozoa, DjB1 was localized in the middle and the end pieces of flagella as well as in association with the head (acrosomal region). Association of DjB1 with the acrosomal region in sperm head was also observed in rat spermatozoa. These data suggested that DjB1, which was constitutively expressed in postmeiotic spermatogenic cells in testis, was integrated into spermatozoa as at least two components, that is, sperm head and tail of rodent spermatozoa.     

Isolation, characterization, and chromosome mapping of a human A-C1 Ha-Ras suppressor gene (HRASLS)

Recently, we cloned a cDNA encoding a novel mouse protein, named A-C1, by differential display between two mouse cell lines, embryonic fibroblast C3H10T1/2 and chondrogenic ATDC5. Mouse A-C1 has homology with a ras-responsive gene, rat Ha-rev107 (Hrasls), and modulates a Ha-ras-mediated signaling pathway. Here, we report a cDNA encoding a human homolog of mouse A-C1. The deduced amino acid sequence of human A-C1 consists of 168 amino acids, and shows 83% identity with that of mouse A-C1. Human A-C1 mRNA was expressed in skeletal muscle, testis, heart, brain, and thyroid in vivo. Moreover, expression of human A-C1 mRNA was detected at a high level in human osteosarcoma-derived U2OS cells in vitro. By FISH analysis the human A-C1 gene (HRASLS) was mapped to human chromosome 3q28--> q29.     

睾丸生精细胞凋亡相关基因TSARG1与Mtsarg1的分子克隆及Mtsarg1基因的表达谱分析

从已获得的在隐睾和正常睾丸对照中表达量有明显差异的EST片段（GenBank登录号：BE644538）出发,利用生物信息学和实验技术,克隆了小鼠睾丸生精细胞凋亡相关新基因Mtsarg1及相应的人类新基因TSARG1,Gen-Bank登录号分别为AF399971和AY032925。小鼠Mtsargl与人类TSARGl基因在氨基酸水平有55％的一致性和61％相似性,与其他已知蛋白质无明显同源性。小鼠10种组织的RT-PCR分析结果表明,Mtsargl基因在睾丸中高表达,在附睾中呈微弱表达,在其他组织不表达,提示Mtsargl和TSARGl基因在生精细胞凋亡或精子发生中具有潜在的重要作用。