title: Male germ cell-specific expression of a novel Patched-domain containing gene Ptchd3.
abstract: The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an important role in various biological processes, including pattern formation, cell fate determination, proliferation, and differentiation. Hh function is mediated through its membrane receptor Patched. Herein, we have characterized a novel Patched-domain containing gene Ptchd3 in mouse. Messenger RNA of Ptchd3 was exclusively detected in the testis, and existed in two isoforms Ptchd3a and Ptchd3b. The expression of these two mRNA isoforms was shown to be developmentally regulated in testes, and specifically found in male germ cells. Further analysis revealed that the Ptchd3 protein was located on the midpiece of mouse, rat and human sperm. Collectively, these results indicate that Ptchd3 is a novel male germ cell-specific gene and may be involved in the Hh signaling to regulate sperm development and/or sperm function.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Fan
authors: Hiroto
authors: H
authors: Akabane
authors: Xuehai
authors: X
authors: Zheng
authors: Xuan
authors: X
authors: Zhou
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Yong-Lian
authors: YL
authors: Zhang
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Guo-Zhang
authors: GZ
authors: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; C526274:Ptchd3 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface