Premium
Expression of a sperm protein gene during spermatogenesis in mammalian testis: An in situ hybridization study
Author(s) -
Wang Linfang,
Miao Shiying,
Yan Yuanchang,
Li Yuehua,
Zong Cong,
Koide S. S.
Publication year - 1990
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/mrd.1080260102
Subject(s) - biology , spermatid , spermiogenesis , spermatogenesis , in situ hybridization , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , complementary dna , gene , cdna library , sperm , gene expression , rna , genetics , endocrinology
In previous work a specific membrane protein with an estimated Mr of 20.1 kDa was purified from rabbit sperm tails and designated as rSMP‐B protein. Antibodies were raised against rSMP‐B protein and used to isolate and identify the cDNA coding the rSMP‐B protein from a rat testis λgt11 expression library. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was determined in a previous study. Single‐stranded 35 S‐labeled RNA probes were prepared. With the techniques of in situ hybridization, rSMP‐B mRNA was detected in spermatids of rat and rabbit testis. The present results support our previous observation that immunization of male rabbits with the rSMP‐B protein results in the arrest of spermatogenesis at the spermatid stage. Overall, rSMP‐B protein appears to be involved in spermiogenesis, and the synthesis of the mRNA encoding the protein occurs in germ cells during the postmeiotic haploid phase of spermatogenesis.