Expression of a novel alternative transcript of the novel retinal pigment epithelial cell gene NORPEG in human testes.
OBJECTIVE
To identify a novel alternative transcript of the novel retinal pigment epithelial cell gene (NORPEG) expressed in the human testis.


METHODS
A human testis cDNA microarray was established and hybridized with cDNA probes from human fetal testes, adult testes and human spermatozoa. Differentially expressed clones were sequenced and analyzed. One of these clones was a short transcript of NORPEG which we proceeded to analyze by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The novel short alternative transcript of NORPEG was isolated and named sNORPEG. It was 3486 bp in length and contained a 2952-bp open reading frame, encoding a 110.4-kDa protein of 983 amino acids. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that the sNORPEG protein contains six ankyrin repeats and two coiled-coil domains. It shares a high homology with the NORPEG and ankycorbin proteins in both its sequence and motifs. Blasting the human genome database localized sNORPEG to human chromosome 5p13.2-13.3. Expression profiles showed that sNORPEG was expressed in human fetal testes, adult testes and spermatozoa. Moreover, sNORPEG was found to be ubiquitously expressed in human tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
sNORPEG is expressed in different developmental stages of the testis and encodes a protein that may have roles in human testis development and spermatogenesis.
Yuan
Wa
W
Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Zheng
Ying
Y
Huo
Ran
R
Lu
Li
L
Huang
Xiao-Yan
XY
Yin
Lan-Lan
LL
Li
Jian-Min
JM
Zhou
Zuo-Min
ZM
Sha
Jia-Hao
JH
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C428450:RAI14 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors