Developmental expression of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and manganese superoxide dismutase mRNAs during spermatogenesis in the mouse.
We have examined in mouse testis the steady-state levels of mRNAs encoding glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2), three enzymes essential for the antioxidant protection of cells. In RNA preparations derived from prepuberal and adult testes and from isolated populations of meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells, one major GSHPx mRNA of about 0.8 kilobases (kb) and one major CAT mRNA of about 2.4 kb were detected. Three SOD-2 mRNAs of about 2.2, 1.2, and 1.0 kb were found in testis. In contrast to GSHPx and CAT, the mRNA levels of SOD-2 were higher in testis than in liver. SOD-2 mRNA levels are developmentally and translationally regulated with maximal levels of expression in early post-meiotic germ cells, whereas the levels of GSHPx and CAT mRNAs are relatively constant in both prepuberal and adult testes. These data suggest that translational regulation plays a more prominent role for SOD-2 expression than for GSHPx or CAT expression in the mammalian testis.
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Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA.
Hecht
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D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase