title: Afaf, a novel vesicle membrane protein, is related to acrosome formation in murine testis.
abstract: As a cell-specific organelle, acrosome (Acr) and its formation are an important event for spermiogenesis. However, the Acr formation is far more complicated than has been proposed. In this study, we have cloned a novel membrane protein Afaf (Acr formation associated factor) that was expressed abundantly in the round spermatids, localized in the inner and outer membrane of forming Acrs, and declined in the maturing Acrs. In the transfected Hela cells, Afaf protein was localized in the plasma membrane, EEA1-positive early endosomes (EEs) and occasionally in the nuclei. Therefore, we propose that EEs and plasma membrane may be also directly involved in the Acr biogenesis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, PR China.
authors.forename: Yin-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Qian
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ke-Ying
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhao-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shi-Xin
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Qing-Zhong
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yi-Xun
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000177:Acrosome / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; C512719:EQTN protein, human; C512717:Eqtn protein, mouse; C512718:Eqtn protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C093846:early endosome antigen 1