A mouse zinc finger gene which is transiently expressed during spermatogenesis.
Zinc finger proteins are polypeptides with sequence-specific, nucleic acid-binding properties. Substantial evidence has established them as a class of trans-acting molecules with regulatory roles in cellular growth and differentiation. We have screened an 11.5 day post coitum urogenital ridge cDNA library with an oligonucleotide encoding a sequence conserved between a variety of zinc finger proteins. By cDNA cloning and sequencing we show that a novel mouse gene, Zfp-35, encodes a protein with a block of 18 zinc finger domains and an N-terminal region rich in acidic residues. The 2.4 kb mRNA encoding this polypeptide is selectively expressed in adult testis, by comparison with other organs. We have analysed Zfp-35 expression in whole testes of sex-reversed mice, whole testes of prepuberal XY animals, germ cell fractions from XY adult testes and by in situ hybridization to sections from adult XY testes. Our studies show that a considerable increase in expression is restricted to spermatocytes at the pachytene stage of meiotic prophase. These experiments suggest that Zfp-35 may act to control gene activity during this particular stage of spermatogenesis.
Cunliffe
V
V
Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories, London, UK.
Koopman
P
P
McLaren
A
A
Trowsdale
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008667:Metalloproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA