Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding the bovine BOULE protein |
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Authors: | Qingbo Zhang Jiahuang Li Qifa Li Xinfu Li Zhenshan Liu Dawei Song Zhuang Xie |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Genetics and Molecular Evolution, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, 210095, People’s Republic of China;(2) The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People’s Republic of China |
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Abstract: | The Deleted in Azoospermia (DAZ) genes encode potential RNA-binding proteins that are expressed exclusively in the germ-line. The bovine Deleted in Azoospermia-like gene is a strong candidate for male cattle-yak infertility. In this work, with the goe goal to further reveal the genetic
cause of male cattle-yak sterility, another bovine DAZ family gene, b-boule, was isolated and characterized. The b-boule gene is predicted to encode a polypeptide of 295 amino acids with an RNP-type RNA recognition domain. Tertiary structure
analysis shows that b-boule binds specifically to polypyrimidine RNAs and might act as a nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle
auxiliary factor during germ cell formation and morphological changes of germ cells. RT-PCR assays revealed that b-boule was expressed specifically in the adult testis. However, an extremely low level of expression was detected in the testis
of sterile male cattle-yaks. Microstructure of the testes from sterile males showed that type A spermatogonia were the only
germ cells present and that few germ cells developed further than the stage of pachytene spermatocytes. These results suggest
that b-boule may function in bovine spermatogenesis, and that low levels of b-boule expression might lead to male sterility in cattle-yaks. |
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Keywords: | Cattle-yak Male sterility b-boule Spermatogenesis Protein structure |
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