Melav2, an elav-like gene, is essential for spermatid differentiation in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Failure of sperm differentiation is one of the major causes of male sterility. During spermiogenesis, spermatids undergo a complex metamorphosis, including chromatin condensation and cell elongation. Although the resulting sperm morphology and property can vary depending on the species, these processes are fundamental in many organisms. Studying genes involved in such processes can thus provide important information for a better understanding of spermatogenesis, which might be universally applied to many other organisms.

Results

In a screen for genes that have gonad-specific expression we isolated an elav-like gene, melav2, from Macrostomum lignano, containing the three RNA recognition motifs characteristic of elav-like genes. We found that melav2 mRNA was express

SUBMITTER: Sekii K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2795745 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature