title: Expression of Prothymosin alpha during the spermatogenesis of the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata.
abstract: In this study, we show that Prothymosin alpha (Ptma), a small, unfolded, negatively charged protein, is present in the cartilaginous fish Torpedo marmorata. The ptma gene is functional and peculiarly controlled during the male spermatogenesis of T. marmorata, as revealed by in situ hybridization and by immunocytochemistry studies. The data show that the ptma transcript is present in stage-specific germ cells, i.e. spermatocytes II and round spermatids. The Ptma protein is detectable in spermatocytes II, in round and elongated spermatids as well as in spermatozoa before their release from cysts, while it is not evident in spermatozoa located in male genital tracts. The ptma transcript and protein are also evident in some Leydig cells, located among maturing cysts containing meiotic and differentiating male cells. No expression for ptma is observed within Sertoli cells. Furthermore, immunolocalization procedures demonstrate that the protein is preferentially localized in the cytoplasm, whereas a nuclear localization is observed in round and elongated spermatids. The possibility that Ptma is involved in testis activity is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy. maprisco@unina.it
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prisco
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donizetti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aniello
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Locascio
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agnese
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreuccetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014101:Torpedo / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; C040782:prothymosin alpha; D013947:Thymosin