The PATE gene is expressed in the accessory tissues of the human male genital tract and encodes a secreted sperm-associated protein

Abstract

ThePATEgene is expressed in prostate and testis. To determine if PATE is expressed in other accessory tissues of the male genital tract, RT-PCR of the epididymis and seminal vesicle was performed. PATE mRNA was highly expressed in the epididymis and seminal vesicle.In situhybridization of the testis showed PATE mRNA is strongly expressed in the spermatogonia. ThePATEgene encodes a 14-kDa protein with a predicted signal sequence and a cleavage site between residues G21 and S22. To determine if PATE is a secreted protein, 293T cells were transfected with a pcDNA-PATE-myc-His plasmid and protein immunoprecipitated with anti-myc monoclonal antibody. Western blot analysis showed the presence of PATE-myc-His protein was in the medium and the cell lysate. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that PATE-myc-His protein is found in the endoplasmic reticulum. The polyclonal antibody SOL-1 was generated by immunization of rabbits with recombinant PATE protein expressed and purified fromEscherichia coli.Western blots were performed on extracts of prostate, testis, seminal vesicle and ejaculated spermatozoa, but PATE protein was only detected in the spermatozoa. Immunostaining of sperm smears revealed that PATE is located in a band-like pattern in the sperm head. Our data indicate that PATE is made by various sexual accessory tissues and secreted into the semen where it becomes associated with sperm, suggesting that PATE is a novel sperm-associated protein with a possible role in mammalian sperm maturation.

PATE Gene Clusters Code for Multiple, Secreted TFP/Ly-6/uPAR Proteins That Are Expressed in Reproductive and Neuron-rich Tissues and Possess Neuromodulatory Activity

“…This is consistent with the functionally demonstrated secretion of ACRV1 (SP10) (18), PATE (17), and Pate-B (svs7, caltrin (19)). No other hydrophobic regions corresponding either to transmembrane domains or to signals for addition of GPI tails are present in the PATE (Pate)-like proteins.…”

“…Analysis by the SignalP (signal peptide prediction) algorithm predicts with very high probability a signal peptide and accompanying cleavage site for each PATE-like protein (Table 1). That this N-terminal region is in fact a signal peptide directing protein for secretion has been functionally demonstrated for PATE (17) and ACRV1 (SP10) (18), and it is very likely that these regions serve the same function in the PATE-B, PATE-DJ, and PATE-M proteins. By transfecting human HEK293 cells with cDNA coding for the native PATE-B protein and analyzing spent culture medium for the presence of PATE-B protein, we have experimentally confirmed (data not shown) that the native PATE-B protein is indeed secreted from the cell.…”

“…Identification of a Human PATE-like Gene Cluster-The PATE gene codes for a small, cysteine-rich protein selectively expressed in human male reproductive tissues, including prostate, testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicle (1,17). Patternsearch techniques (see "Experimental Procedures") revealed three additional PATE-like genes, designated PATE-B, PATE-M, and PATE-DJ, which localized to the same 11q24 genomic locus as the PATE gene (Fig.…”

“…The secreted TFP/Ly-6/uPAR domain-containing proteins Pate-B, PATE, and ACRV1 (Acrv1), all bind to sites on the sperm cell (17,19,24), suggesting specific receptors for these proteins present on the sperm membrane. These results also tie in with what is known about the mouse Pate-B homolog (caltrin or svs7), which has been postulated to modulate calcium permeability in sperm cells (20).…”

Molecular Evolution of TEPP Protein Genes in Metazoans

“…This approach resulted in characterization of several genes of which transcripts are enriched in prostate tumors and/or normal prostate tissues (Bera et al 2004(Bera et al , 2003(Bera et al , 2002. Some of these genes were also detected in related reproductive organs, such as testis and placenta (Ise et al 2008;Levitin et al 2008;Soler-Garcia et al 2005). The human TEPP gene showed a similar expression pattern, with the highest level in testis (Bera et al 2003).…”