title: Mouse sperm cell-specific DnaJ first homologue: an evolutionarily conserved protein for spermiogenesis.
abstract: Msj-1 (mouse sperm cell-specific DnaJ first homologue) is a gene specifically expressed in germ cells at haploid stages. The protein first appears in round spermatids, accumulates in the periacrosomal region of elongating spermatids, and is maintained in spermatozoa. The msj-1 expression pattern is consistent with a role for this DnaJ protein in the spermiogenesis process. In this study, we used two experimental models, the anuran amphibian Rana esculenta and the wobbler mutant mouse, to explore the role of MSJ-1 during spermatogenesis, with a focus on spermiogenesis. Mice homozygous for the recessive mutation wobbler (wr/wr), a mutation of unknown identity, produce sperm cells characterized by a missing acrosome. In Rana esculenta testis, detection of high levels of MSJ-1 protein coincided with the appearance of postmeiotic germ cells during the annual sexual cycle. Conversely, elimination of the meiotic and postmeiotic stages, through gonadotropin administration at low temperature, abolished the MSJ-1 immunoreactive signal. In 20-day-old mice, when postmeiotic germ cells appeared for the first time, MSJ-1 mRNA and protein were observed in +/+ testis but were barely detectable in wr/wr testis. In adult testis, reduced MSJ-1 protein levels were observed in both +/wr and wr/wr testis, as compared with +/+ controls. Similarly, numbers of spermatids that stained by immunofluorescence for MSJ-1 appeared to be progressively reduced in adult +/+, +/wr, and wr/wr mouse testes, respectively. Characterization of the endocrine status of wobbler testis revealed reduced transcript levels of estrogen receptor alpha and reduced intratesticular androgen levels. However, androgen treatment did not affect MSJ-1 protein levels in either frogs or mice. In conclusion, our data in Rana esculenta and the wobbler mouse demonstrate a tight correlation between MSJ-1 protein expression and postmeiotic stages. In particular, the findings in the wobbler testis suggest a role for this protein in acrosomogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. F. Bottazzi, II Università di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meccariello
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cobellis
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Junier
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceriani
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boilée
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierantoni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasano
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000728:Androgens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry; D050956:HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011893:Rana esculenta; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; C494642:Dnajb3 protein, mouse; D050956:HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D012313:RNA