蒙古绵羊 tnp1基因cDNA全编码区的克隆及序列分析

过渡蛋白1基因(tnp1)是圆形精子细胞特异表达的基因.绵羊tnp1基因的DNA序列至今尚未报道.为了开展绵羊圆形精子细胞标记基因的研究,根据其他物种tnp1基因cDNA的保守序列设计引物,从成年蒙古绵羊睾丸中提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR和分子克隆方法,克隆了蒙古绵羊tnp1基因cDNA全编码区.该基因cDNA 长246 bp,包含一个168 bp的ORF,编码含有54个氨基酸的多肽链.DNA序列测定结果与牛的核苷酸序列比对,同源性为94.0%.绵羊tnp1基因的cDNA克隆和序列测定为进一步研究绵羊精子发生过程奠定了基础.     

绵羊tnp2基因的克隆及其在体外共培养系统中圆形精子细胞的转录分析

过渡蛋白2基因（tnp2）是圆形精子细胞特异表达的基因。为了开展绵羊圆形精子细胞标记基因的研究,根据GenBank上已公布的牛的cDNA序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR和分子克隆方法,克隆了蒙古绵羊tnp2基因cDNA部分编码区序列。DNA 序列测定结果与牛的核苷酸序列比对,同源性为95.3%。根据绵羊tnp2基因的cDNA序列设计引物,对共培养的四月龄绵羊睾丸生殖细胞进行RT-PCR鉴定。结果显示体外共培养的绵羊睾丸生殖细胞一直到第十周后仍有圆形精子细胞产生。绵羊tnp2基因的cDNA克隆和序列测定为进一步研究绵羊精子发生过程奠定了基础。     

大鼠中心体蛋白家族基因的克隆及其在睾丸中的表达特征

centrin是进化上高度保守的中心体蛋白家族, 已从多种生物中克隆到其同源基因, 但基因文库中尚无大鼠centrin序列的报道. 采用RT-PCR从大鼠睾丸组织中克隆到centrin-1, -2和 -3 cDNA片段, 对其衍生的氨基酸序列进行同源性比较, 结果显示, 人、小鼠、大鼠中相应的centrin蛋白同源性很高. 采用半定量RT-PCR技术研究了它们在大鼠精子发生过程中的表达特征. 结果表明, centrin-1的表达具有睾丸组织和生精细胞特异性, 并呈现出发育阶段相关的规律, 它仅在减数分裂开始后转录, 其mRNA水平在圆形精子细胞中达到高峰. centrin-2和centrin-3在睾丸精原细胞中有高表达, 进入减数分裂后其mRNA水平迅速降低, 同时在一些体细胞中也有表达. 推测centrin-1可能在减数分裂或精子细胞变态分化过程中发挥作用, 而centrin-2, -3可能与有丝分裂有关.     

大鼠精原干细胞的高效分离和纯化方法

精原干细胞是精子发生的基础,是永久分化成精子的克隆源,它既可以自我更新维持体内干细胞的数量,又可以增殖分化形成各阶段的生精细胞直至成熟精子。本文以22～25日龄Wistar-Iamichi大鼠为研究对象,利用两步酶消化法分离得到睾丸曲细精管细胞悬液,根据精原干细胞与曲细精管细胞悬液中体细胞(支持细胞及少量的管周细胞)及各级分化的生精细胞贴壁能力及对细胞外基质粘附力的不同,将大鼠精原干细胞进行纯化。经纯化后,5只大鼠的睾丸可以得到约3×10~5个精原干细胞,该精原干细胞在体外培养可形成克隆,并且该克隆可表达精原干细胞特异的标记基因GFRα1和CDH1。本文所介绍的高效分离和纯化大鼠精原干细胞的方法,操作简便,且得到的精原干细胞具有很高的活力和增殖能力,该方法为今后大鼠精原干细胞的长期培养及操作研究奠定了基础。     

绵羊钙调蛋白调节基因Calponin h1 的分子克隆

在一项研究中我们发现雌激素体在胚胎发育后期对绵羊子宫平滑肌Calponin (CaP) 基因的活动有明显上调作用,而CaP一直被作为观察其他基因表达水平变化的基准参照基因（Reference Gene）。迄今为止, 绵羊CaP尚未完整克隆,为进一步了解其结构和功能,根据人、小鼠和家猪的同源保守区序列设计锚定寡核苷酸引物,通过5′-RACE及3′-RACE方法克隆了绵羊子宫平滑肌组织全长CaP h1 cDNA (GenBank登录号： AY327118), 在cDNA序列的基础上, 又通过PCR-SSP方法获得了CaP h1基因除内含子1、2之外的其余4个内含子全部序列 （GenBank登录号分别为：AY771807,AY771808, AY771809, AY771810） 。DNA序列测定和分析表明,绵羊子宫平滑肌CaP h1 cDNA全长1499bp, 编码297个氨基酸,5′-UTR及3′-UTR分别为79bp和529bp。CaP h1基因组DNA的克隆和序列分析表明,绵羊CaP全长约8kb,由 7个外显子和6个内含子组成。 同源序列比较发现,该基因外显子在不同物种间相对保守;与人类、野猪、小鼠、大鼠和鸡Calponin mRNA同源性分别为88％、92％、81％、79％和81％,但不同物种间内含子存在较大差异(>50%)。本研究填补了绵羊CaP基因分子克隆的空白,为进一步研究该基因的功能及子宫平滑肌收缩的调节机理奠定了基础。     

睾丸支持细胞对精原干细胞发育的调节

精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)是位于睾丸曲精小管基膜上既能自我更新,又能定向分化的一类原始精原细胞.鉴于其独具的生物学特性,SSCs研究在干细胞生物学、医学、畜牧业等领域均具有重要意义,但目前有关其更新、分化的调控机制仍不清楚.干细胞的发育受其外部特定发育环境及其内在因素的综合调控.最近以睾丸支持细胞为主要结构组分的发育环境对SSCs行为的调控研究备受关注且取得快速进展.综合相关报道,主要就哺乳动物睾丸支持细胞对SSCs更新、分化的调节进行了评述,以期为本领域及其他干细胞研究提供借鉴.     

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.     

甜瓜乙烯应答因子基因在果实发育成熟过程中的表达特性

根据已报道的甜瓜CMe-ERF1和CMe-ERF2基因cDNA序列设计合成特异性引物,应用RT-PCR技术从甜瓜品种‘河套蜜瓜’成熟果实中克隆得到CMe-ERF1和CMe-ERF2基因cDNA全长编码区序列,分别为498bp和822bp.序列比对分析表明,得到的cDNA序列与已报道的Andes甜瓜相应基因的cDNA序列完全一致.果实不同发育时期实时定量PCR检测结果表明,CMe-ERF1、CMe-ERF2基因表达与甜瓜果实成熟及乙烯生成量显著相关,表明该基因可能对果实成熟起重要作用.     

浅谈精原干细胞研究进展

精原干细胞是雄性动物体内精子发生过程中起重要作用的精原细胞类型,不但具有干细胞特性,还能定向分化为雄性配子将自身基因传递给后代。除此之外,体外培养和鉴定精原干细胞为移植和转基因提供了基础。我们对精原干细胞的生物学特性、分离培养、鉴定、移植及精原干细胞介导的转基因进行简要概述。     

硝基还原酶结构域蛋白1在大鼠睾丸组织中特异性高表达在人类睾丸癌中表达下调

通过克隆分离鉴定得到大鼠硝基还原酶结构域蛋白1(rNOR1),发现rNOR1 cDNA含有1 418 个碱基,编码含379个氨基酸残基的rNOR1蛋白．rNOR1与人类NOR1 (hNOR1)和小鼠NOR1 (mNOR1)的同源性分别为89% 和93%,这三种同源蛋白都含有OSCP1家族的保守结构域．rNOR1基因在大鼠睾丸中选择性高表达,而且与之同源的人类hNOR1也选择性高表达于睾丸中．通过免疫组化检测人类不同睾丸癌中的hNOR1蛋白表达,发现hNOR1蛋白在非癌变睾丸组织和胚胎性癌组织中高表达,而在精原细胞癌和分化型非精原细胞癌(畸胎瘤,卵黄囊瘤)中低表达．这些数据表明,hNOR1可能是一种睾丸选择性表达基因,睾丸癌hNOR1表达的改变或许可以帮助我们阐明hNOR1蛋白在生殖细胞系肿瘤发生中的功能．     

CDH1 is a specific marker for undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse testes

In the mammalian testis, spermatogenesis is initiated from a subset of stem cells belonging to undifferentiated type A spermatogonia. In spite of the biologic significance of undifferentiated type A spermatogonia, little is known about their behavior and properties because of a lack of specific cell surface markers. Here we show that CDH1 (previously known as E-cadherin) is expressed specifically in undifferentiated type A spermatogonia in the mouse testis. Histologic analysis showed that CDH1-positive cells had all the characteristics of undifferentiated type A spermatogonia. Whole-mount immunohistochemistry showed that CDH1-positive cells made clusters mainly comprising one, two, four, or eight cells. They survived after administration of the cytotoxic agent busulfan to mice, and then regenerated seminiferous epithelia. Transplantation experiments showed that only CDH1-positive cells had colonizing activity in the recipient testis. Our data clearly demonstrated that spermatogenic stem cells reside among undifferentiated type A spermatogonia, which express CDH1.     

The effects of steel mutation on testicular germ cell differentiation

The effects of artificial cryptorchidism and its surgical reversal on spermatogenesis were examined in germ cell mutant, S1/+ and wild type, +/+, mice. In cryptorchid testes no difference was found between S1/+ and +/+ mice in the number of undifferentiated type A spermatogonia. The activity of type A spermatogonia in mutant mice appeared normal as judged by its mitotic cell number and DNA synthesis. The surgical reversal of cryptorchidism resulted in regenerative differentiation of mature germ cells in both types of mice, but the pattern of cellular differentiation in the mutant testes was completely different from that of the wild type testes. At two steps of cellular differentiation, intermediate or type B spermatogonia and spermatid, the numbers of cells were much smaller in the S1/+ testes than those in the +/+ testes. The steel gene was therefore suggested to exert its effects on the differentiation of type A spermatogonia to intermediate or type B spermatogonia, on meiotic division and/or the survival rate of these cells, but not on the undifferentiated type A spermatogonia or stem cells.     

Identification of a molecular marker for type A spermatogonia by microarray analysis using gonadal cells from pvasa-GFP transgenic rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The spermatogonia of fish can be classified as being either undifferentiated type A spermatogonia or differentiated type B spermatogonia. Although type A spermatogonia, which contain spermatogonial stem cells, have been demonstrated to be a suitable material for germ cell transplantation, no molecular markers for distinguishing between type A and type B spermatogonia in fish have been developed to date. We therefore sought to develop a molecular marker for type A spermatogonia in rainbow trout. Using GFP-dependent flow cytometry (FCM), enriched fractions of type A and type B spermatogonia, testicular somatic cells, and primordial germ cells were prepared from rainbow trout possessing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene driven by trout vasa regulatory regions (pvasa-GFP rainbow trout). The gene-expression profiles of each cell fraction were then compared with a microarray containing cDNAs representing 16,006 genes from several salmonid species. Genes exhibiting high expression for type A spermatogonia relative to above-mentioned other types of gonadal cells were identified and subjected to RT-PCR and quatitative PCR analysis. Since only the rainbow trout notch1 homologue showed significantly high expression in the type A spermatogonia-enriched fraction, we propose that notch1 may be a useful molecular marker for type A spermatogonia. The combination of GFP-dependent FCM and microarray analysis of pvasa-GFP rainbow trout can therefore be applied to the identification of potentially useful molecular markers of germ cells in fish.     

Role of c-kit in mouse spermatogenesis: identification of spermatogonia as a specific site of c-kit expression and function.

Recent studies have shown that the dominant white spotting (W) locus encodes the proto-oncogene c-kit, a member of the tyrosine kinase receptor family. One symptom of mice bearing mutation within this gene is sterility due to developmental failure of the primordial germ cells during early embryogenesis. To elucidate the role of the c-kit in gametogenesis, we used an anti-c-kit monoclonal antibody, ACK2, as an antagonistic blocker for c-kit function to interfere with the development of male and female germ cells during postnatal life. ACK2 enabled us to detect the expression of c-kit in the gonadal tissue and also to determine the functional status of c-kit, which is expressed on the surface of a particular cell lineage. Consistent with our immunohistochemical findings, the intravenous injection of ACK2 into adult mice caused a depletion in the differentiating type A spermatogonia from the testis during 24-36 h, while the undifferentiated type A spermatogonia were basically unaffected. Intraperitoneal injections of ACK2 into prepuberal mice could completely block the mitosis of mature (differentiating) type A spermatogonia, but not the mitosis of the gonocytes and primitive type A spermatogonia, or the meiosis of spermatocytes. Our results indicate that the survival and/or proliferation of the differentiating type A spermatogonia requires c-kit, but the primitive (undifferentiated) type A spermatogonia or spermatogenic stem cells are independent from c-kit. Moreover, the antibody administration had no significant effect on oocyte maturation despite its intense expression of c-kit.     

The sensitivity to X rays of mouse spermatogonia that are committed to differentiate and of differentiating spermatogonia.

In the CBA mouse the radiosensitivity of the undifferentiated spermatogonia that are committed to differentiate was determined by counting their more developed descendants 10 days after graded doses of X rays. Decreasing D0 values were found when these differentiating spermatogonia were derived from undifferentiated spermatogonia that were located in all likelihood in chains of increasing length. In stages IX and X of the epithelial cycle the radiosensitivity of these undifferentiated spermatogonia was characterized by a D0 of 2.2 Gy. This D0 value most likely belongs to the Asingle spermatogonia that form repopulating colonies which give rise to differentiating spermatogonia within the same epithelial cycle. In stages XII/I, where a D0 of 1.0 Gy was found, the dose-response curve is likely dominated by the Apaired spermatogonia present in these stages. In stages III to VII, the Aaligned spermatogonia transforming into A1 spermatogonia determine the radiosensitivity. During this period the D0 decreased from 0.7 to 0.4 Gy. Differentiating A1 to A3 and B spermatogonia had rather similar radiosensitivities of 0.4 to 0.5 Gy.     

Essential role of mouse Dead end1 in the maintenance of spermatogonia

Dead end is a vertebrate-specific RNA-binding protein implicated in germ cell development. We have previously shown that mouse Dead end1 (DND1) is expressed in male embryonic germ cells and directly interacts with NANOS2 to cooperatively promote sexual differentiation of fetal germ cells. In addition, we have also reported that NANOS2 is expressed in self-renewing spermatogonial stem cells and is required for the maintenance of the stem cell state. However, it remains to be determined whether DND1 works with NANOS2 in the spermatogonia. Here, we show that DND1 is expressed in a subpopulation of differentiating spermatogonia and undifferentiated spermatogonia, including NANOS2-positive spermatogonia. Conditional disruption of DND1 depleted both differentiating and undifferentiated spermatogonia; however, the numbers of A_single and A_paired spermatogonia were preferentially decreased as compared with those of A_aligned spermatogonia. Finally, we found that postnatal DND1 associates with NANOS2 in vivo, independently of RNA, and interacts with some of NANOS2-target mRNAs. These data not only suggest that DND1 is a partner of NANOS2 in undifferentiated spermatogonia as well as in male embryonic germ cells, but also show that DND1 plays an essential role in the survival of differentiating spermatogonia.     

ARHGEF15 is expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia but is not required for spermatogenesis in mice

Spermatogenesis is a continual process that relies on the activities of undifferentiated spermatogonia, which contain spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that serve as the basis of spermatogenesis. The gene expression pattern and molecular control of fate decisions of undifferentiated spermatogonia are not well understood. Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 15 (ARHGEF15, also known as EPHEXIN5) is a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) that activates the Rho protein. Here, we reported that ARHGEF15 was expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia and spermatocytes in mouse testes; however, its deletion did not affect spermatogenesis. Arhgef15^-/- mice were fertile, and histological examination of the seminiferous tubules of Arhgef15^-/- mice revealed complete spermatogenesis with the presence of all types of spermatogenic cells. Proliferation and differentiation of the undifferentiated spermatogonia were not impacted; however, further analysis showed that Arhgef15 deletion resulted in decreased expression of Nanos2, Lin28a and Ddx4. Together, these findings suggest that ARHGEF15 was specifically enriched in undifferentiated spermatogonia and regulated gene expression but dispensable for spermatogenesis in mice.     

Stem cell defects in ATM-deficient undifferentiated spermatogonia through DNA damage-induced cell-cycle arrest

Mammalian spermatogenesis is maintained by stem cell capacity within undifferentiated spermatogonial subpopulation. Here, using a combination of surface markers, we describe a purification method for undifferentiated spermatogonia. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that this population is composed of Plzf-positive cells and exhibits quiescence and the side population phenotype, fulfilling general stem cell criteria. We then applied this method to analyze undifferentiated spermatogonia and stem cell activity of Atm(-/-) mice. Atm(-/-) testis shows progressive depletion of undifferentiated spermatogonia accompanied by cell-cycle arrest. In Atm(-/-) undifferentiated spermatogonia, a self-renewal defect was observed in vitro and in vivo. Accumulation of DNA damage and activation of the p19(Arf)-p53-p21(Cip1/Waf1) pathway were observed in Atm(-/-) undifferentiated spermatogonia. Moreover, suppression of p21(Cip1/Waf1) in an Atm(-/-) background restored transplantation ability of undifferentiated spermatogonia, indicating that ATM plays an essential role in maintenance of undifferentiated spermatogonia and their stem cell capacity by suppressing DNA damage-induced cell-cycle arrest.