Identification of RARhoGAP, a novel putative RhoGAP gene expressed in male germ cells.
A gene encoding a novel RhoGAP of 1146 amino acids was isolated from rat testis RNA. Analysis of this protein identified two conserved domains, a RhoGAP domain and an RA domain. Thus the gene was named RARhoGAP. The RhoGAP domain contained conserved residues critical for RhoGAP activity, suggesting this domain is involved in the down-regulation of Rho GTPases. The presence of the RA domain suggests that RARhoGAP also functions as an effector for Ras- or Ral-like GTPases. RT-PCR analysis showed the transcript was ubiquitous in extragonadal tissues; however, Northern analysis indicated highest expression was in the testis. Homologues of rat RARhoGAP were found in mouse and human and were found expressed in testis by nested RT-PCR. In situ hybridization confirmed the specific expression of RARhoGAP in differentiating male germ cells. We postulate that RARhoGAP may be involved in rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and cell signaling events that occur during spermatogenesis.
Curry
Benjamin J
BJ
Reproductive Science Group, Discipline of Biological Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
Su
Hua
H
Law
Estelle G
EG
McLaughlin
Eileen A
EA
Nixon
Brett
B
Aitken
R John
RJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C085379:rho GTPase-activating protein