title: Characterization of a cDNA containing trinucleotide repeat sequences that is highly enriched in spermatogenic cells.
abstract: Trinucleotide repeat sequences have become of great interest due to their association with specific genetic disorders. Here we report the identification of a cDNA containing opa trinucleotide repeats from mouse testis, termed t-OPA. The opa repeat is contained within the longest open reading frame within the cDNA. Northern analysis demonstrated that four distinct t-OPA transcripts (1.6, 2.5, 3.6, 4.0 kilobases) are preferentially expressed in mouse and rat testis, with low expression in the pituitary, brain, and adrenal gland. Further, t-OPA RNAs were highly abundant in both pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids and decreased in cytoplasts. Polysome profile analysis indicated that t-OPA mRNAs are translated in mouse testis with efficiencies similar to other transcripts expressed in late meiotic/early post-meiotic spermatogenic cells. These findings thus suggest a role for cell-specific mRNAs containing opa repeats during mouse spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Group, Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Persengiev
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor