Molecular cloning of haploid germ cell‐specific tektin cDNA and analysis of the protein in mouse testis

Abstract

Tektins are a class of proteins that form filamentous polymers in the walls of ciliary and flagellar microtubules. We report here the molecular cloning of a new member of the tektin family, tektin-t, identified from a mouse haploid germ cellspecific cDNA library. Tektin-t mRNA encodes a protein of 430 deduced amino acids possessing RSNVELCRD, the conserved sequence of tektin family proteins. Western blotting showed a single band having a molecular weight of 86 kDa in the mouse testis. Immunohistochemistry of the testis showed that tektin-t is localized in the flagella of elongating spermatids from developmental step 15 to maturity.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Identification and characterization of testis specific ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (OAZ‐t) gene: expression in haploid germ cells and polyamine‐induced frameshifting

“…In the present study, we report the isolation of a cDNA encoding a testis-speci®c OAZ named OAZ-t from a haploid germ cell-speci®c cDNA library (Iguchi et al 1999). OAZ-t mRNA was exclusively expressed in haploid germ cells.…”

“…From a subtracted cDNA library enriched with haploid speci®c testicular cDNAs (Iguchi et al 1999), we have isolated a cDNA clone named TISP-15 (Transcript Increased in Spermiogenesis) containing a sequence homologous to somatic ornithine decarboxylase antizyme 1 (OAZ1). To isolate the full length cDNA clone, a 35-day-old testis cDNA library (2´10 5 c.f.u.)…”

Haprin, a Novel Haploid Germ Cell-specific RING Finger Protein Involved in the Acrosome Reaction

“…Previously, we isolated cDNA clones that are specifically expressed in mouse haploid germ cells from the subtracted cDNA library (7). Many of these haploid germ cell-specific genes are thought to be involved in the differentiation process of spermiogenesis and/or in sperm function (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). We report here the characterization of a novel RBCC (RING finger, B-box type zinc finger, and coiled-coil domain) motif family gene named haprin (from haploid germ cell-specific RBCC protein), which was cloned from a subtracted cDNA library.…”

Association of polymorphisms in tektin-t gene with idiopathic asthenozoospermia in Sichuan, China

“…It has been demonstrated that tektins participated in the assembly of axonemal microtubules and offered stability to axonemal microtubules [29]. Tektins are a highly conserved family of flagellar and ciliary proteins in many species from invertebrate to higher species, such as Chlamydomonas, sea urchins, zebrafish, hedgehog, rodents, and humans [18,19,28,30,31]. In mammals, tektins exist in the testis, brain, retina, and other tissues containing ciliated cells [32,33].…”

“…Moreover, Bhilawadikar R et al [17] found that tektin-t levels were positively associated with sperm motility parameters, fertilization rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate. The human tektin-t (or h-tekB1 or Tektin-2) gene has been cloned [18][19][20], showing a specific expression in testis, and precisely localized in flagella of mature sperm. The localization of this protein and its association with sperm motility make it a good candidate gene for research into the causes of AZS.…”