title: Genomic structure and expression analysis of the mouse testis-specific ribbon protein (Trib) gene.
abstract: During our analyses of genes required for the development and function of the mouse gonads, we identified a novel testis-specific mRNA, transcribed from a gene that we have named testis-specific ribbon protein (Trib). In the mouse, Trib is located on chromosome 15, overlapping with and transcribed in the opposite orientation of the meiosis specific gene Smc1beta. The deduced amino acid sequence of testis ribbon (TRIB) protein is highly conserved between human, mouse, and rat and contains the ribbon motifs found in the largely uncharacterized microtubule ribbon protein ribbon43a (RIB43A). We show by Northern blot analyses and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that Trib mRNA is specifically expressed in the adult testis. In situ hybridization indicates that Trib is expressed solely in germ cells during the leptotene-pachytene stages of spermatogenesis. The high level of evolutionary conservation and the cellular and temporal expression suggest that Trib may be required for mouse spermatogenesis and male fertility. Here, we describe the genomic structure and expression profile of mouse Trib and compare its homology with other ribbon proteins.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories/WRN1024, Massachusetts General Hospital, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. narango@partners.org
authors.forename: Nelson A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Arango
authors.forename: Elliot J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Patricia K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Donahoe
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008868:Microtubule Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; C497704:Trib protein, mouse