title: MZF6D, a novel KRAB zinc-finger gene expressed exclusively in meiotic male germ cells.
abstract: Spermatogenesis takes place in the seminiferous tubule in the testes and culminates in the production of spermatozoa (male gametes). Here we report the identification of a novel mouse zinc-finger gene, MZF6D, which is selectively expressed in meiotic spermatocytes. The MZF6D protein contains an N-terminally located repressor domain, a KRAB domain, followed by at least seven successive Krüppel zinc-finger motifs. The KRAB domain of MZF6D, which consists of a KRAB A box and the newly identified KRAB C box, has previously been shown to interact with TIF1beta, which is the common corepressor of all KRAB zinc-finger proteins. Northern blot analysis shows that the expression of MZF6D is restricted to testes. This was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis of a panel of mouse tissues. In situ hybridization of sections from adult mouse testes localizes the expression to meiotic spermatocytes, suggesting a specific role for MZF6D in the regulation of spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Looman
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abrink
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hellman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C422407:ZNF350 protein, human; C478343:Zfp640 protein, mouse