A novel germ line-specific gene of the phosducin-like protein (PhLP) family. A meiotic function conserved from yeast to mice.
We identified a new member of the phosducin-like (PhLP) protein family that is predominantly, if not exclusively, expressed in male and female germ cells. In situ analysis on testis sections and analysis of purified spermatogenic cell fractions evidenced a stage-specific expression with high levels of RNA and protein in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. Three mRNA species were detected, which correspond to different polyadenylation sites and vary in abundance during germ cell maturation. Only low levels of RNA were detected in whole ovary extracts, but expression of the protein became detectable within hours after hormonal induction of superovulation. The gene (Mgcphlp) is located on mouse chromosome 5 in the immediate vicinity of the Clock locus. The predicted amino acid sequence shows extensive similarities not only with the known mammalian PhLP proteins but also with the yeast phosducin-like protein Plp2, required for the production and growth of haploid cells. Expression of the murine protein was found to complement the defect of a yeast plp2 Delta mutant. We propose that MgcPhLP/Plp2 proteins exert a function in germ cell maturation that is conserved from yeast to mammals.
Lopez
Pascal
P
University of Nice, INSERM U470, 06108 Nice, France.
Yaman
Ruken
R
Lopez-Fernandez
Luis A
LA
Vidal
Frédérique
F
Puel
Daniel
D
Clertant
Philippe
P
Cuzin
François
F
Rassoulzadegan
Minoo
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C498321:PDCL2 protein, human; C498322:PDCL3 protein, human; C498319:Pdcl protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger