Round spermatid-specific transcription of the mouse SP-10 gene is mediated by a 294-base pair proximal promoter.
Spermiogenesis is the terminal phase of male germ cell differentiation during which haploid spermatids engage in coordinate expression of a number of testis-specific genes, including those specifying acrosomal proteins. To begin to understand the transcriptional regulation during acrosomal biogenesis, we initiated promoter analysis of the gene encoding the acrosomal protein SP-10. SP-10 was previously shown to be transcribed within Golgi-phase round spermatids in the human. The present study characterizes SP-10 gene expression during spermiogenesis in the mouse and identifies regions of the mouse SP-10 (mSP-10) promoter that are capable of driving round spermatid-specific transcription in vivo. Expression of mSP-10 mRNA was initiated in early round spermatids coincident with acrosomal biogenesis and was terminated prior to nuclear elongation. The core promoter of mSP-10 lacked a TATA box but contained a canonical initiator (Inr) element surrounding the transcription start site. Using transgenic mice, we showed that the -408 to +28-base pair (bp) or the -266 to +28-bp mSP-10 5' flanking region is sufficient to direct round spermatid-specific expression of a green fluorescent protein reporter gene. On the other hand, the -91 to +28-bp mSP-10 gene fragment lacked promoter activity in vivo. This is the first functional characterization of a testis-specific gene promoter active in early round spermatids.
Reddi
P P
PP
Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. ppr5s@virginia.edu
Flickinger
C J
CJ
Herr
J C
JC
D000177:Acrosome; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D017931:DNA Primers; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D016678:Genome; D015698:Genomic Library; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
C512729:ACRV1 protein, human; C080034:Acrv1 protein, mouse; D000941:Antigens; D017931:DNA Primers; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA