Ubiquitin-specific protease activity of USP9Y, a male infertility gene on the Y chromosome.
Deletions of USP9Y have been observed among infertile males with defective spermatogenesis. Therefore, the gene has been designated as a male infertility gene on the Y chromosome. However, it remains to be determined how male infertility results from deletions of this gene. In order to initiate an investigation into the cellular functions of USP9Y in male germ cell development, in the present study we characterized the enzymatic specificity of USP9Y. Our results show that both USP9Y and Fam, the mouse infertility protein Usp9x, possess a protease activity specific to ubiquitin. These results suggest that, through de-ubiquitination, USP9Y may stabilize a specific target protein that is important for male germ cell development.
Lee
Kyung Ho
KH
School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Song
Gyun Jee
GJ
Kang
Inn Soo
IS
Kim
Soo Woong
SW
Paick
Jae-Seung
JS
Chung
Chin Ha
CH
Rhee
Kunsoo
K
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014162:Transfection; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D000076084:Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C481724:USP9Y protein, human; D025801:Ubiquitin; D010450:Endopeptidases; C464569:USP7 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D000076084:Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7; C404328:Usp9x protein, mouse