Expression of toxin-related human mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 in human testes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 (ART3) mRNA is expressed in human testes and, if so, whether the expression is cell type-specific.


METHODS
ART3 mRNA was determined in human testes and sperm by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage of ART3 was shown by treating ART3-transfected HEK-293-T cells with phospholipase C. Fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS)-analyses were used to detect ART3 on mature spermatozoa and immunohistological studies to detect the protein in testes.


RESULTS
ART3 protein was shown to be present in testes. It was found on spermatocytes only. It was absent from spermatogonia, spermatids and spermatozoa. The absence of ART3 from spermatozoa was confirmed by FACS-analysis. ART3 protein was detected neither within a seminoma nor on Leydig cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Here we show for the first time that ART3 protein is expressed in testes in particular on spermatocytes, indicating that ART3 exerts a specific function only required at a particular stage of spermatogenesis.
Friedrich
Maik
M
Institute of Biology II, Deptartment of Immunobiology, University of Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Grahnert
Andreas
A
Paasch
Uwe
U
Tannapfel
Andrea
A
Koch-Nolte
Friedrich
F
Hauschildt
Sunna
S
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology*; D014162:Transfection
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C105233:ART3 protein, human