title: Cloning and characterization of tesk1, a novel spermatogenesis-related gene, in the tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).
abstract: Testis-specific protein kinase 1 (Tesk1) is a serine/threonine kinase with unique structural features. In the present study, we cloned and characterized the tesk1 gene of tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis. The full-length tesk1 cDNA consists of 1,672 nucleotides, encoding a 331 amino acid polypeptide with a characteristic structure composed of an N-terminal kinase domain and a C-terminal proline-rich domain. The tesk1 genomic sequence contains eight exons and seven introns. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that tesk1 mRNA is expressed predominantly in the testis, though the level of expression varied throughout development. We used in situ hybridization to show that tesk1 mRNA is expressed in the spermatids of males and pseudo-males, but not in triploid males. Our results suggest that tongue sole Tesk1 may play a role in spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Wanjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Changwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, PR China.
authors.forename: Songlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D021381:Protein Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger