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Identification of a rat testis–specific gene encoding a potential rat outer dense fibre protein
Author(s) -
O'Bryan M.K.,
Loveland K.L.,
Herszfeld D.,
McFarlane J.R.,
Hearn M.T.W.,
De Kretser D.M.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(199807)50:3<313::aid-mrd7>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - biology , gene , identification (biology) , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , botany
Screening of a rat testis expression library with an antiserum specific for an outer dense fibre (ODF) has led to the identification of a gene encoding for a putative protein previously unknown as a component of the sperm tail. This gene has been designated tpx‐1 by virtue of its homology with the mouse and human gene of the same name (79 and 73%, respectively). The tpx‐1 ‐like gene encoded a 1.6‐kb mRNA and a 243‐amino‐acid protein that had significant homology with members of the cysteine‐rich secretory protein (CRISP) family and partial homology with several venom/allergen proteins from both plants and insects. During rat spermatogenesis, the tpx‐1 ‐like transcript was first detected by in situ hybridization in low levels in late pachytene spermatocytes. Low but detectable levels of expression continued up to step 5 round spermatids, after which expression levels increased dramatically to a maximum in step 11–12 spermatids. Progressively decreasing levels of expression were detected in up to step 17 elongating spermatids. Testicular somatic cells did not contain detectable tpx‐1 ‐like transcript. This pattern of expression is consistent with published data on the development of the ODF in spermatogenesis and, when taken together with a comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of tpx‐1 with the animo acid analysis of a 29‐kDa rat ODF protein, suggests that the tpx‐1 ‐like gene may encode for this protein. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 50:313–322, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.