A ubiquitin protein ligase (E3), E3Histone /LASU1 (Mule/ARF-BP1/HUWE1), was recently identified that mediates ubiquitination of core histones, the Mcl-1 anti-apoptotic protein, and the p53 tumor suppressor protein. However, the expression of E3 Histone /LASU1 remains poorly studied. Because we identified E3 Histone /LASU1 from the testis, we explored its regulation during spermatogenesis. In the first wave of rat spermatogenesis, E3Histone /LASU1 mRNA and protein had peak expression at days 10 and 20, respectively, and decreased with age. Consistent with these findings, immunohistochemistry revealed that E3 Histone /LASU1 was highly expressed in nuclei from spermatogonia to mid-pachytene spermatocytes. There was no obvious staining in spermatids, when histones are ubiquitinated and degraded.
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