title: Identification and characterization of reproductive KRAB-ZF genes in mice.
abstract: The mammalian genome contains numerous genes encoding transcription factors that contain Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) and C2H2-type zinc finger (ZF) motifs (KRAB-ZF). In the present study, we identified KRAB-ZF genes expressed in the mouse testis or ovary, and selected three genes that exhibit gonad-specific or gonad-predominant expression. In vitro analyses showed that these gonadal KRAB-ZF proteins are localized in cell nuclei and are able to repress transcriptional activity. We further analyzed one of the gonad-specific reproductive genes, Zfp819, and found that it is expressed exclusively in spermatogenic cells. Overexpression of Zfp819 suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Microarray analysis of Zfp819-overexpressing cells allowed us to identify numerous, potential target genes. A number of the down-regulated genes were found to show gene expression levels inversely correlated with Zfp819 during spermatogenesis. Some of the down-regulated genes were previously reported to play significant roles in spermatogenesis and apoptosis. Collectively, our study provides the first comprehensive information regarding the expression of reproductive KRAB-ZF genes in mice and reveals potential functions of Zfp819.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jihye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Juri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sera
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 420-743, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Nam
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yung Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea. Electronic address: choch@gist.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chunghee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C000588731:Zfp819 protein, mouse
keywords: Apoptosis; KRAB; Microarray; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Zinc finger