Cloning, sequence characterization, and expression patterns of members of the porcine TSSK family

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Testis-specific serine kinases (TSSKs) are a family of serine/ threonine kinases highly expressed in the testes that are responsible for regulating many spermatogenesis-related protein activities. Mutations in this family have a positive relationship with oligospermia and azoospermia in human and mouse. Here, five members of the TSSK family from a Banna mini-pig inbred line (BMI) were cloned, sequenced, and characterized. The (2015) full-length coding sequences of BMI TSSKs varied from 807 (TSSK3) to 1095 bp (TSSK1) and encoded 268 to 364 amino acids with molecular weights in the range 30.11 to 41.34 kDa. Following comparison with TSSK4 genes in other species, BMI TSSK4 was found to contain three alternatively spliced variants, inform1, inform 3, and inform 4. BMI TSSK1 and TSSK2 are co-localized on the Sus scrofa chromosome (SSC) 14, and consist of a single exon; TSSK3, TSSK4, and TSSK6 are on SSC6, SSC7, and SSC2, and consist of two, four, and one exon, respectively. Multiple protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that the regions spanning the S_TKc domains were more conserved between pig and other animals: with TSSK1 and TSSK2 and TSSK3 and TSSK6 displaying the greatest degree of homology across species, and the TSSK4 protein clearly distinct from other members. Multi-tissue RT-PCR showed BMI TSSK1, TSSK3, and TSSK4 were only expressed in the testes and seminal vesicle, TSSK2 was confined to testes only, while TSSK6 was expressed widely in adult tissues but was highest in the testes.

Expression of the Testis-Specific Serine/Threonine Kinases Suggests Their Role in Spermiogenesis of Bay Scallop Argopecten irradians

“…In present study, five Tssk genes were identified in the scallop A. irradians, which is comparable with that of vertebrates (six in mouse and five in human and porcine; Li et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2015a). It suggests no significant duplication events occurred for Tssk family during the evolution of bilateria.…”

“…In recent years, a family of testis-specific protein kinases, called as testis-specific serine/threonine kinases (Tssks), has attracted researcher's interest due to their essential roles in spermatogenesis (Wang et al, 2015a;Li et al, 2016;Kim et al, 2019). Six Tssk subfamilies have been reported in mammals, including Tssk1 through Tssk6, which have the conserved serine/ threonine protein kinases catalytic (S_TKc) domain (Wang et al, 2015a). Most of them are specifically expressed in spermatids or sperm (Li et al, 2011) and have been demonstrated to play essential roles in spermatogenesis.…”

Characterization of testis-specific serine/threonine kinase 1-like (TSSK1-like) gene and expression patterns in diploid and triploid Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai; Gastropoda; Mollusca) males

“…In the RT-PCR-based tissue expression assay, abalone TSSK1-like displayed a testis-predominant pattern of mRNA expression, which is typically observed in mammalian TSSK1 [4,42]. Furthermore, expression levels of abalone TSSK1-like transcripts were readily affected by both age and reproductive cycles of the males, in which there was a positive relationship between TSSK1-like expression levels and the degree of testis maturation.…”

Testis-specific serine kinase protein family in male fertility and as targets for non-hormonal male contraception†

“…[ 36 ] reported that three TSSK orthologs are expressed in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and that deletion mutants carry male gametes with different degrees of abnormality. In 2015, five members of the TSSK family were cloned and characterized in a Banna mini-pig inbred line [ 37 ]. Very recently, a TSSK1-like gene was cloned and characterized in the Pacific abalone species, Haliotis discus hannai [ 38 ], a commercially important marine gastropod.…”