Site-specific phosphorylation of Tau protein is associated with deacetylation of microtubules in mouse spermatogenic cells during meiosis.
Tau is one of the microtubule-associated proteins and a major component of paired helical filaments, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Its expression has also been indicated in the testis. However, its function and modification in the testis have not been established. Here, we analyzed the dynamics of phosphorylation patterns during spermatogenesis. The expression of Tau protein and its phosphorylation were shown in the mouse testis. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the phosphorylation was strongly detected during meiosis. Correspondingly, the expression of acetylated tubulin was inversely weakened during meiosis. These results suggest that phosphorylation of Tau protein contributes to spermatogenesis, especially in meiosis.
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Hiroki
H
Inoue
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Yuuki
Y
Hiradate
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Yoshiki
Y
Shirakata
Molecular Enzymology, Department of Molecular Cell Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Kenta
K
Kanai
Molecular Enzymology, Department of Molecular Cell Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Keita
K
Kosaka
Molecular Enzymology, Department of Molecular Cell Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Aina
A
Gotoh
Laboratory of Sustainable Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan.
Yasuhiro
Y
Fukuda
Laboratory of Sustainable Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan.
Yutaka
Y
Nakai
Molecular Enzymology, Department of Molecular Cell Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Takafumi
T
Uchida
National Livestock Breeding, 1 Odakurahara, Odakura, Nishigo-mura, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima 961-8511, Japan.
Eimei
E
Sato
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aobaku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan. Electronic address: kentaro@m.tohoku.ac.jp.
Kentaro
K
Tanemura
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D014404:Tubulin; D016875:tau Proteins
Meiosis; Spermatogenesis; Tau; Testis