Expression of a sperm protein gene during spermatogenesis in mammalian testis: an in situ hybridization study.
In previous work a specific membrane protein with an estimated Mr of 20.1 kDa was purified from rabbit sperm tails and designated as rSMP-B protein. Antibodies were raised against rSMP-B protein and used to isolate and identify the cDNA coding the rSMP-B protein from a rat testis lambda gt11 expression library. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was determined in a previous study. Single-stranded 35S-labeled RNA probes were prepared. With the techniques of in situ hybridization, rSMP-B mRNA was detected in spermatids of rat and rabbit testis. The present results support our previous observation that immunization of male rabbits with the rSMP-B protein results in the arrest of spermatogenesis at the spermatid stage. Overall, rSMP-B protein appears to be involved in spermiogenesis, and the synthesis of the mRNA encoding the protein occurs in germ cells during the postmeiotic haploid phase of spermatogenesis.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
L F
LF
Wang
S Y
SY
Miao
Y C
YC
Yan
Y H
YH
Li
C
C
Zong
S S
SS
Koide
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012313:RNA; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C049242:rSMP-B protein, human; D012313:RNA