title: Scaffold attachment factor B2 (SAFB2)-null mice reveal non-redundant functions of SAFB2 compared with its paralog, SAFB1.
abstract: Scaffold attachment factors SAFB1 and SAFB2 are multifunctional proteins that share >70% sequence similarity. SAFB1-knockout (SAFB1(-/-)) mice display a high degree of lethality, severe growth retardation, and infertility in male mice. To assess the in vivo role of SAFB2, and to identify unique functions of the two paralogs, we generated SAFB2(-/-) mice. In stark contrast to SAFB1(-/-), SAFB2(-/-) offspring were born at expected Mendelian ratios and did not show any obvious defects in growth or fertility. Generation of paralog-specific antibodies allowed extensive expression analysis of SAFB1 and SAFB2 in mouse tissues, showing high expression of both SAFB1 and SAFB2 in the immune system, and in hormonally controlled tissues, with especially high expression of SAFB2 in the male reproductive tract. Further analysis showed a significantly increased testis weight in SAFB2(-/-) mice, which was associated with an increased number of Sertoli cells. Our data suggest that this is at least in part caused by alterations in androgen-receptor function and expression upon deletion of SAFB2. Thus, despite a high degree of sequence similarity, SAFB1(-/-) and SAFB2(-/-) mice do not totally phenocopy each other. SAFB2(-/-) mice are viable, and do not show any major defects, and our data suggest a role for SAFB2 in the differentiation and activity of Sertoli cells that deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Shiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Garee
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Francesco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: DeMayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Adrian V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA oesterreichs@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oesterreich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C500609:scaffold attachment factor B1, mouse; C000609253:scaffold attachment factor B2, mouse
keywords: Reproduction; Scaffold attachment factor B2 (SAFB2); Sertoli cells