title: Expression and function of the testis-predominant protein LYAR in mice.
abstract: Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex process involving an intrinsic genetic program of germ cell-specific and -predominant genes. In the present study, we analyzed the Ly-1 reactive clone (Lyar) gene in the mouse. Lyar, which is known to be expressed abundantly in the testis, encodes a nucleolar protein that contains a LYAR-type C2HC zinc finger motif and three nuclear localization signals. We herein confirmed that Lyar is expressed predominantly in the testis, and further showed that this expression is specific to germ cells. Protein analyses with an anti-LYAR antibody demonstrated that the LYAR protein is present in spermatocytes and spermatids, but not in sperm. To assess the functional role of LYAR in vivo, we used a genetrap mutagenesis approach to establish a LYAR-null mouse model. Lyar mutant mice were born live and developed normally. Male mutant mice lacking LYAR were fully fertile and showed intact spermatogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that LYAR is strongly preferred in male germ cells, but has a dispensable role in spermatogenesis and fertility.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Boyeon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jihye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Juri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yong-il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Chunghee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C081182:Lyar protein, mouse; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger