title: UBPy/MSJ-1 system during male germ cell progression in the frog, Rana esculenta.
abstract: mUBPy (mouse ubiquitin specific processing protease) is a de-ubiquitinating enzyme expressed in mouse testis and brain. In testis, it interacts with the DnaJ protein MSJ-1 (mouse sperm cell specific DnaJ first homologue), a molecular chaperone expressed in spermatids and spermatozoa. Since MSJ-1 is conserved among vertebrates, to demonstrate an evolutionarily conserved function of UBPy/MSJ-1 system, we assayed mUBPy presence in the anuran amphibian, the frog, Rana esculenta, during the annual sexual cycle. By Western blot we have detected a specific signal of 126kDa in testis and isolated spermatozoa. During the annual sexual cycle, the signal gradually increases as soon as spermatogenesis resumes after the winter stasis. Using immunocytochemistry, we have localized the protein in spermatids and spermatozoa. In conclusion, UBPy/MSJ-1 system is available in R. esculenta testis suggesting a conserved fundamental function in spermatogenesis and sperm formation.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Studi delle Istituzioni e dei Sistemi Territoriali, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meccariello
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chianese
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cobellis
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierantoni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology*; D056827:Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D050956:HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D056827:Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; D050956:HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C541536:Usp8 protein, mouse; C091939:ubiquitin isopeptidase