Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 is localized to the XY body of meiotic prophase spermatocytes.
We found that phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (phospho-ERK1/2) is localized to the XY body of meiotic prophase spermatocytes. A more detailed surface spread analysis showed that phospho-ERK1/2 is localized to the synaptonemal complex of the XY pair of pachytene spermatocytes or the entire XY body of zygotene spermatocytes. In the XY body of meiotic prophase spermatocytes, both transcription and homologous recombination are inactivated. These results suggest a novel function of ERK1/2 in meiotic sex chromosome inactivation.
Miura
Kenji
K
Department of Developmental Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan. kmiura@ndmc.ac.jp
Imaki
Junko
J
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011418:Prophase; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000502:physiology*; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000502:physiology*
D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3