Asymmetric distribution of UCH-L1 in spermatogonia is associated with maintenance and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Asymmetric division of germline stem cells in vertebrates was proposed a century ago; however, direct evidence for asymmetric division of mammalian spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) has been scarce. Here, we report that ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCH-L1) is expressed in type A (A(s), A(pr), and A(al)) spermatogonia located at the basement membrane (BM) of seminiferous tubules at high and low levels, but not in differentiated germ cells distant from the BM. Asymmetric segregation of UCH-L1 was associated with self-renewal versus differentiation divisions of SSCs as defined by co-localization of UCH-L1(high) and PLZF, a known determinant of undifferentiated SSCs, versus co-localization of UCH-L1(low/-) with proteins expressed during SSC differentiation (DAZL, DDX4, c-KIT). In vit

SUBMITTER: Luo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2732714 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature