STK31(TDRD8) is dynamically regulated throughout mouse spermatogenesis and interacts with MIWI protein |
| |
Authors: | Jianqiang Bao Li Wang Jianbo Lei Yanqin Hu Yue Liu Hongbin Shen Wei Yan Chen Xu |
| |
Institution: | (1) Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280, South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China;(2) Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Department of Automation, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China;(3) Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada Reno, 1664 North Virginia St, CMM, MS0575, Reno, NV 89557, USA; |
| |
Abstract: | Tudor-domain-containing proteins (TDRDs) are suggested to be critical regulators of germinal granules assembly involved in
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs)-mediated pathways, of which associated components and the underlying functional mechanisms,
however, remain to be elucidated. We herein characterized the expression pattern of STK31, a member of TDRDs subfamily (also
termed as TDRD8), throughout spermatogenesis during mouse postnatal development. RT-PCR and Western blot verified its preferential
expression in testis, but not in any other somatic tissues, in addition to embryonic stem cells. Immunofluorescent staining
demonstrated that STK31 was confined to granules-like structures in mid-to-late spermatocyte cytoplasm and to acrosomal cap
starting at steps 7–8 of spermatids. Furthermore, STK31 retained its localization to equatorial segment of acrosome during
epididymal maturation, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. Co-immunoprecipitation assay in vivo and in vitro confirmed MIWI
is a bona fide partner of STK31 in mice testes, in combination with LC/MS identification. We also discovered a group of heat
shock proteins specifically associated with STK31 in vivo. Our findings suggest mouse STK31 could be a potential nuage-associated
protein in the cytoplasm of mid-to-late spermatocytes and play pivotal roles related to fertilization. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|