title: Distinct expression and localization of the type II diacylglycerol kinase isozymes δ, η and κ in the mouse reproductive organs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have revealed that the type II diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) δ, η and κ were expressed in the testis and ovary. However, these enzymes' functions in the reproductive organs remain unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we first identified the expression sites of type II DGKs in the mouse reproductive organs in detail. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting confirmed that DGKδ2 (splicing variant 2) but not DGKδ1 (splicing variant 1) and DGKκ were expressed in the testis, ovary and uterus. DGKη1 (splicing variant 1) but not DGKη2 (splicing variant 2) was strongly detected in the ovary and uterus. Interestingly, we found that a new alternative splicing product of the DGKη gene, DGKη3, which lacks exon 26 encoding 31 amino acid residues, was expressed only in the testis. Moreover, we investigated the distribution of type II DGKs in the testis, ovary and uterus through in situ hybridization. DGKδ2 was distributed in the primary spermatocytes of the testis and ovarian follicles. DGKη1 was distributed in the oviductal epithelium of the ovary and the luminal epithelium of the uterus. Intriguingly, DGKη3 was strongly expressed in the secondary spermatocytes and round spermatids of the testis. DGKκ was distributed in the primary and secondary spermatocyte of the testis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the expression patterns of the type II DGK isoforms δ2, η1, η3 and κ differ from each other, suggesting that these DGK isoforms play specific roles in distinct compartments and developmental stages of the reproductive organs, especially in the processes of spermatogenesis and oocyte maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan. aeka3227@chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shionoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan. 13SD3101@chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan. adwa3198@chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komenoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan. t.isozaki@softbank.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isozaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan. hisakai@chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan. sakane@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sakane
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014599:Uterus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase