Male germ cell-specific expression of a novel Patched-domain containing gene Ptchd3.
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.
Fan
Jun
J
Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.
Akabane
Hiroto
H
Zheng
Xuehai
X
Zhou
Xuan
X
Zhang
Li
L
Liu
Qiang
Q
Zhang
Yong-Lian
YL
Yang
Jing
J
Zhu
Guo-Zhang
GZ
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
D020033:Protein Isoforms; C526274:Ptchd3 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface