A novel testis-specific GTPase serves as a link to proteasome biogenesis: functional characterization of RhoS/RSA-14-44 in spermatogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Most Rho family GTPases serve as key molecular switches in a wide spectrum of biological processes. An increasing number of studies have expanded their roles to the spermatogenesis. Several members of Rho family have been confirmed to be essential for mammalian spermatogenesis, but the precise roles of this family in male reproduction have not been well studied yet. Here we report a surprising function of an atypical and testis-specific Rho GTPase, RSA-14-44 in spermatogenesis. Featured by unique structural and expressional patterns, RSA-14-44 is distinguished from three canonical members of Rho cluster. Thus, we define RSA-14-44 as a new member of Rho GTPases family and rename it RhoS (Rho in spermatogenic cells). RhoS associates with PSMB5, a catalytic subunit of the proteasome, in a ser

SUBMITTER: Zhang N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3002385 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature