The human "prion-like" protein Doppel is expressed in both Sertoli cells and spermatozoa.
The prion-like Doppel protein (Dpl) has many biochemical and structural properties in common with the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)), and the physiological role of neither protein is known. Experimental data suggest either direct or indirect interaction between the two proteins. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and biochemical characteristics of Dpl in human tissues and in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with wild-type or variant human Dpl gene constructs. Human Dpl appears to be a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein with N- and O-linked sugars. It was found on Sertoli cells in the testis, on the flagella of epididymal and mature spermatozoa, and in seminal plasma. Dpl coexists only with N-terminally truncated isoforms of PrP(c) on mature spermatozoa. The localization of human Dpl on both Sertoli cells (somatic cells) and spermatozoa (germinal cells) strongly suggests that this protein may play a major role in human male fertility. Finally, our data indicate that spermatozoa are thus an interesting model for studies of the potential interaction between Dpl and PrP(c).
Service de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise Paré, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France. katell.peoch@lrb.ap-hop-paris.fr.
Katell
K
Peoc'h
Catherine
C
Serres
Yveline
Y
Frobert
Caroline
C
Martin
Sylvain
S
Lehmann
Stephanie
S
Chasseigneaux
Veronique
V
Sazdovitch
Jacques
J
Grassi
Pierre
P
Jouannet
Jean-Marie
JM
Launay
Jean-Louis
JL
Laplanche
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010957:Plasmids; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C501125:PRND protein, human; D011328:Prions; D011994:Recombinant Proteins