Identification of candidate genes involved in gonocyte development.
Several germ cell tumors that occur in adult men likely originate from gonocytes that are impaired in their development. To select candidate genes that are involved in the normal development of the gonocytes, we constructed a complementary DNA (cDNA) library from rat gonocytes as well as from single, paired, and aligned A spermatogonia (A(s), A(pr), and A(all) spermatogonia, respectively), their direct descendants. Five hundred gonocyte clones were differentially screened using both libraries. Successive verification by dot blot assays yielded 7 clones that were consistently highly abundant only in the gonocyte cDNA library. Also, in situ hybridization of these clones confirmed their differential expression. They encoded for, respectively, succinate dehydrogenase, ribosomal protein S15a, and the 65-kilodalton scaffolding subunit (a isoform) of protein phosphatase 2A. No clues regarding the nature of the remaining four clones could be found. Hence, using differential screening on both constructed cDNA libraries, we were able to select several genes that are interesting candidates for studying the molecular mechanisms of normal gonocyte development.
Van den Ham
Rene
R
Department of Biochemistry Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
van Dissel-Emiliani
Federica M F
FM
van Peltt
Ans M M
AM
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D005820:Genetic Testing; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D012333:RNA, Messenger