title: POTE protein, a cancer-testis antigen, is highly expressed in spermatids in human testis and is associated with apoptotic cells.
abstract: The POTE gene family encodes very closely related proteins that are highly expressed in testis and in many cancers. Recent studies indicate that the POTE proteins have a pro-apoptotic function. To examine if POTE is associated with cells that are undergoing apoptosis in testis, we determined the cellular location of POTE and of Cleaved Caspase-3 in testicular tissues from 26 azoospermic men. We found intense expression of POTE in round spermatids that are undergoing apoptosis, which are positive for Cleaved Caspase-3. This study suggests POTE may have a role in apoptosis in the human testis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. BeraT@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Tapan K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Bera
authors.forename: Dawn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sherins
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pastan
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D053148:Caspase 3