Expression and subcellular localization of GSE protein in germ cells and preimplantation embryos.
We previously identified a novel gonad-specific expression gene (Gse) and investigated its expression during gametogenesis in the mouse testis and ovary. In this study, we generated a polyclonal antibody to GSE protein and determined the profiles of the protein's expression in germ cells and preimplantation embryos in detail using immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence staining. In a Western blot analysis, the anti-GSE antibody recognized long and short isoforms (approximately 27.6 kDa and 23.1 kDa) of the protein in the mouse testis and the long isoform in the ovary. In the mouse testis, GSE protein was expressed in spermatocytes I in the pachytene stage, round spermatids, and elongated spermatids. In the mouse ovary, the protein was located in the cytoplasm and nucleus of all oocytes regardless of the stage of the ovarian follicles. In preimplantation embryos from the pronuclear to blastocyst stage, however, GSE protein was mainly detected in the nuclei of cells. At the blastocyst stage, the protein was confirmed to have accumulated in the inner cell mass (ICM), whereas it had mostly disappeared from the trophectoderm (TE). These findings suggest that GSE protein may play a role in the establishment of nuclear totipotency and may be associated with early lineage specification.
Mizuno
Satoshi
S
The Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility: IVF Osaka Clinic, Higashi-Osaka, and Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kinki University, Wakayama, Japan.
Sono
Youhei
Y
Matsuoka
Toshiki
T
Matsumoto
Kazuya
K
Saeki
Kazuhiro
K
Hosoi
Yoshihiko
Y
Fukuda
Aisaku
A
Morimoto
Yoshiharu
Y
Iritani
Akira
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry; D039901:Totipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011506:Proteins; C515280:Stpg4 protein, mouse