title: Regulation of spermatogenesis by testis-specific, cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase TPAP.
abstract: Spermatogenesis is a highly specialized process of cellular differentiation to produce spermatozoa. This differentiation process accompanies morphological changes that are controlled by a number of genes expressed in a stage-specific manner during spermatogenesis. Here we show that in mice, the absence of a testis-specific, cytoplasmic polyadenylate [poly(A)] polymerase, TPAP, results in the arrest of spermiogenesis. TPAP-deficient mice display impaired expression of haploid-specific genes that are required for the morphogenesis of germ cells. The TPAP deficiency also causes incomplete elongation of poly(A) tails of particular transcription factor messenger RNAs. Although the overall cellular level of the transcription factor TAF10 is unaffected, TAF10 is insufficiently transported into the nucleus of germ cells. We propose that TPAP governs germ cell morphogenesis by modulating specific transcription factors at posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwabara
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Tiangang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohmura
authors.forename: Arata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018390:Gene Targeting; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism; D011062:Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000502:physiology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C490387:Cpeb1 protein, mouse; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C489754:Sycp1 protein, mouse; C490062:Sycp3 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors; D011061:Poly A; D011062:Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase