title: The Src non-receptor tyrosine kinase paradigm: New insights into mammalian Sertoli cell biology.
abstract: Src kinases are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that phosphorylate diverse substrates, which control processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and survival; cell adhesion; and cell motility. c-Src, the prototypical member of this protein family, is widely expressed by several organs that include the testis. In the seminiferous epithelium of the adult rat testis, c-Src is highest at the tubule lumen during the release of mature spermatids. Other studies show that testosterone regulates spermatid adhesion to Sertoli cells via c-Src, indicating Src phosphorylates key substrates that prompt the disassembly of Sertoli cell-spermatid junctions. A more recent in vitro study reveals that c-Src participates in the internalization of proteins that constitute the blood-testis barrier, which is present between Sertoli cells, suggesting a similar mechanism of junction disassembly is at play during spermiation. In this review, we discuss recent findings on c-Src, with an emphasis on its role in spermatogenesis in the mammalian testis.
authors: Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, USA.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Chojnacka
authors: Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, USA. Electronic address: mruk@popcbr.rockefeller.edu.
authors: Dolores D
authors: DD
authors: Mruk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016392:Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / Q000378:metabolism*; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D016392:Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)
keywords: Cell junction; Non-receptor tyrosine kinase; Spermatogenesis; Testis