Genomic Organization, Tissue Distribution and Functional Characterization of the Rat Pate Gene Cluster

Abstract

The cysteine rich p rostate a nd t estis e xpressed ( Pate ) proteins identified till date are thought to resemble the three fingered protein/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor proteins. In this study, for the first time, we report the identification, cloning and characterization of rat Pate gene cluster and also determine the expression pattern. The rat Pate genes are clustered on chromosome 8 and their predicted proteins retained the ten cysteine signature characteristic to TFP/Ly-6 protein family. PATE and PATE-F three dimensional protein structure was found to be similar to that of the toxin bucandin. Though Pate gene expression is thought to be prostate and testis specific, we observed that rat Pate genes are also expressed in seminal vesicle and epididymis and in tissues beyond the male reproductive tract. In the developing rats (20–60 day old), expression of Pate genes seem to be androgen dependent in the epididymis and testis. In the adult rat, androgen ablation resulted in down regulation of the majority of Pate genes in the epididymides. PATE and PATE-F proteins were found to be expressed abundantly in the male reproductive tract of rats and on the sperm. Recombinant PATE protein exhibited potent antibacterial activity, whereas PATE-F did not exhibit any antibacterial activity. Pate expression was induced in the epididymides when challenged with LPS. Based on our results, we conclude that rat PATE proteins may contribute to the reproductive and defense functions.

Effect of immunization against prostate- and testis-expressed (PATE) proteins on sperm function and fecundity in the rat

“…Although the Pate genes were initially thought to be prostate-and testisspecific, a recent study indicated their expression in the epididymis and not in the testis and prostate (Turunen et al, 2011). We reported that the rat Pate genes were found to be expressed in the seminal vesicle and epididymis and in tissues beyond the male reproductive tract; and their expression seems to be androgen-dependent (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012). A characteristic feature of the PATE proteins is the presence of 10 cysteine residues that form two motifs: ( (Fig.…”

“…Rat PATE and PATE-F antibodies were raised in rabbits as described earlier (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012). For the initial immunization, rabbits were administered 100 g of recombinant PATE or PATE-F protein mixed with complete adjuvant.…”

“…We recently identified and characterized a cluster of rat Pate genes that are located on chromosome 8q21 within a 2.5-kb segment present between the Acrv1 and Ddx25 genes (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012). In the human and mouse, the Pate gene cluster is present on chromosomes 11 and 9 respectively (Levitin et al, 2008;Bera et al, 2002;SolerGarcia et al, 2005;Turunen et al, 2011).…”

“…Among the ten rat Pate genes identified, we focused on the characterization of two of them; namely, Pate and Pate-F, since the mRNA expression of Pate is restricted to corpus and cauda and that of Pate-F was specific to the caput (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012). In addition to the differential mRNA expression, PATE protein was found to be localized on the entire surface of sperm, whereas PATE-F was restricted to the head region (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012). Further, PATE and PATE-F differ in their functional features.…”

“…PATE protein exhibited potent antibacterial activity, whereas PATE-F did not. It was very interesting to note that only Pate expression was induced in the epididymides when challenged with LPS, suggesting the role of this protein in innate immunity as well (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012). However, the three-dimensional structures of PATE and PATE-F were found to be similar to that of the toxin bucandin (Rajesh and Yenugu, 2012).…”