title: Molecular cloning of Odf3 encoding a novel coiled-coil protein of sperm tail outer dense fibers.
abstract: The outer dense fibers (ODF) are the main cytoskeletal structures of the sperm tail found in animals with internal fecundation. They consist of at least 14 polypeptides from which only a few are identified due to difficulties in isolation of the protein components. Here we report the isolation and molecular characterization of Odf3, encoding a novel protein of rat sperm ODF. Odf3 is transcribed in testes and more specifically in spermatids but it is also expressed in epididymides and brain suggesting a possible involvement in building of the cellular cytoskeleton. Odf3 encodes a putative protein of approximately 110 kDa. Secondary structure predictions indicated that ODF3 is a coiled-coil protein. The identification of coiled-coil proteins as constituents of outer dense fibers reveals a model for ODF formation.
authors.affiliation: III. Zoologisches Institut-Entwicklungsbiologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aumüller
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoyer-Fender
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C490108:Odf1 protein, rat; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger