Expression of uncharacterized male germ cell-specific genes and discovery of novel sperm-tail proteins in mice.

ABSTRACT: The identification and characterization of germ cell-specific genes are essential if we hope to comprehensively understand the mechanisms of spermatogenesis and fertilization. Here, we searched the mouse UniGene databases and identified 13 novel genes as being putatively testis-specific or -predominant. Our in silico and in vitro analyses revealed that the expressions of these genes are testis- and germ cell-specific, and that they are regulated in a stage-specific manner during spermatogenesis. We generated antibodies against the proteins encoded by seven of the genes to facilitate their characterization in male germ cells. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that one of these proteins was expressed only in testicular germ cells, three were expressed in both testicular

SUBMITTER: Kwon JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5526581 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature