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Functional characterization of PKDREJ, a male germ cell‐restricted polycystin
Author(s) -
Sutton Keith A.,
Jungnickel Melissa K.,
Ward Christopher J.,
Harris Peter C.,
Florman Harvey M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.20755
Subject(s) - germ cell , germ , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cell , genetics , gene
Abstract Polycystin‐1 regulates a number of cellular processes through the formation of complexes with the polycystin‐2 ion channel or with other signal transduction proteins. Polycystin‐1 is expressed in many tissues but other members of this gene family are distributed in a more restricted fashion. PKDREJ expression has been detected only in the mammalian testis, where it is restricted to the spermatogenic lineage and retained in mature sperm. However, the functional characteristics of this protein and its role in sperm biology are not well understood. In this study it is shown that PKDREJ can modulate G protein signaling and associates with several members of the polycystin‐2 family. These interactions, as well as polycystin‐2 association with TRPC channels, are consistent with a role of this protein in the regulation of the acrosome reaction and in other aspects of sperm physiology. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 493–500, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.