title: Expression of activin beta subunit genes in Sertoli cells of newt testes.
abstract: From newt testes we cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) activin beta A and beta B subunit genes, each encoding the mature region of the peptides. A single from for each of the subunit, genes was isolated. Newt beta A and beta B share 80 and 98% protein sequence similarity with the human subunits, respectively. Northern blot analysis showed that beta A subunit mRNA is approximately 7 kilobases in length and is expressed during spermatogenesis in stages from spermatogonial to spermatid, but activin beta B subunit mRNA is barely detectable during these sages. We also isolated a cDNA clone containing the entire coding region of beta A and performed in situ hybridization with its cRNA probe. Newt activin beta A subunit mRNA was detected in Sertoli cells, but not in germ cells or pericystic cells. These findings suggest that activin A plays an important role in newt spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Kumamoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D012455:Salamandridae; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins