title: Presence of DAZL transcript and protein in mature human spermatozoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the DAZL transcript and protein location in human spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro experiment.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based reproductive genetics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A fertile volunteer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunostaining for DAZL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of DAZL in human spermatozoa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DAZL-specific primers yield a 128 bp product in ejaculate. A protein of approximately 33.5 kDa was detected by Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence staining showed strong homogeneous staining in the midpiece of spermatozoa and weak staining in the principal piece. A speckled-type distribution was found in the head region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DAZL transcript and protein are present in human spermatozoa. The roles of DAZL protein in sperm motility and in the sperm-oocyte interaction await further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, National Cheng Kung University, College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chaio Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H Sunny
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shaw Jeng
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Johnny Shinn Nan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pao Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C101358:DAZL protein, human; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins