title: Identification and characterization of a novel human testis-specific Golgi protein, NYD-SP12.
abstract: A novel human testis-specific gene, NYD-SP12, was identified by hybridizing human adult or fetal testes cDNA samples with a human cDNA microarray containing 9216 clones. mRNA expression level of NYD-SP12 was 30-fold higher in human adult testes than fetal testes. Similarly, semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed a differential expression pattern of an NYD-SP12 homologous gene in mouse adult and infant testes. PCR and hybridization analysis of NYD-SP12 mRNA from multiple human tissues indicated the expression of NYD-SP12 exclusively in the testis. In-situ hybridization revealed that the expression of this gene was confined to spermatogenic epithelium and was not found in interstitial cells. NYD-SP12 transcript was not detected in patients with spermatogenic arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome. NYD-SP12 cDNA (GenBank accession number: AF345909) consisted of 2070 bp. The predicted 1707 bp open-reading fragment encoded a 569 amino acid protein that was 77% identical to a mouse homologue. Furthermore, computerized SMART and Motif analysis revealed that the protein contained a Structural Classification Of Proteins (SCOP) domain in the C-terminus and a cluster of phosphorylation sites for PKC, CK and cAMP/cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Interestingly, the EGFP-NYD-SP12 fusion protein was localized to the Golgi apparatus. In conclusion, the results suggest that NYD-SP12 is involved in spermatogenesis, and that NYD-SP12-encoded protein might function in the Golgi apparatus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Human Functional Genomics, Nanjing Medical University, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Junhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lanlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zuomin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jiahao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sha
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013577:Syndrome; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C474264:SPATA16 protein, human; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins