P-FAK-Tyr(397) regulates spermatid adhesion in the rat testis via its effects on F-actin organization at the ectoplasmic specialization.

ABSTRACT: During spermatogenesis, the molecular mechanism that confers spermatid adhesion to the Sertoli cell at the apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES), a testis-specific F-actin-rich adherens junction, in the rat testis remains elusive. Herein, the activated form of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), p-FAK-Tyr(397), a component of the apical ES that was expressed predominantly and stage specifically in stage VII-early stage VIII tubules, was found to be a crucial apical ES regulator. Using an FAK-Y397E phosphomimetic mutant cloned in a mammalian expression vector for its transfection vs. FAK and vector alone in adult rat testes in vivo, its overexpression was found to cause defects in spermiation. These defects in spermiation were manifested by entrapment of spermatids in the seminiferous epit

SUBMITTER: Wan HT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4073987 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature