Post-meiotic gene expression

Genetic and structural characterization of the human mitochondrial inner membrane translocase

Translocation of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial preproteins is mediated by translocases in the outer and inner membranes. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, translocation of preproteins into the matrix requires the membrane proteins Tim23, Tim17 and Tim44, which drive translocation in cooperation with mtHsp70 and its co-chaperone Mge1p. We have cloned and functionally analyzed the human homologues of Tim17, Tim23 and Tim44. In contrast to yeast, two TIM17 genes were found to be expressed in humans. TIM44, TIM23 and TIM17a genes were mapped to chromosomes 19p13.2-p13.3, 10q11. 21-q11.23 and 1q32. The TIM17b gene mapped to Xp11.23, near the fusion point where an autosomal region was proposed to have been added to the "ancient" part of the X chromosome about 80-130 MY ago. The primary sequences of the two proteins, hTim17a and hTim17b, are essentially identical, significant differences being restricted to their C termini. They are ubiquitously expressed in fetal and adult tissues, and both show expression levels comparable to that of hTim23. Biochemical characterization of the human Tim components revealed that hTim44 is localized in the matrix and, in contrast to yeast, only loosely associated with the inner membrane. hTim23 is organized into two distinct complexes in the inner membrane, one containing hTim17a and one containing hTim17b. Both TIM complexes display a native molecular mass of 110 kDa. We suggest that the structural organization of TIM23.17 preprotein translocases is conserved from low to high eukaryotes.

The Hsp70 homolog gene, Hsc70t, is expressed under translational control during mouse spermiogenesis

Hsc70t is a member of the Hsp70 family of genes and is constitutively expressed after meiosis in mouse spermatogenesis. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used to examine the precise localization of the Hsc70t product during the various stages of spermatogenesis. A rabbit antiserum raised againstthe mouse Hsc70t-lacZ fusion protein detected the Hsc70t protein in the late spermatid-enriched fraction after two-dimensional Western blot analyses. On histological sections, the protein appears in the cytoplasm of spermatids as they progress from step 9 to the final step of spermatogenesis. An antisense RNA probe generated from the 3' untranslated region of Hsc70t cDNA detected Hsc70t mRNA in late round spermatids from step 7 onward with the signal disappearing in spermatids at step 15. Thus, Hsc70t mRNA first appears after meiosis in haploid cells but is not translated effectively until these cells progress to the transcriptionally inactive stage which coincides with chromatin condensation. These results establish that the synthesis of Hsc70t protein is under strict translational control.

Post-meiotic expression of the mouse dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 3 (DRP-3) gene during spermiogenesis

The dihydropyrimidinase-related protein (DRP) family, originally identified in humans by their homology to dihydropyrimidinase, contains at least four members. Genes of this family, and their counterparts in other mammals and chickens, are expressed mainly in fetal and neonatal brain, suggesting that the encoded proteins have a physiological role in the development of the central nervous system. In addition, the DRP-3 gene is expressed in testis as a shorter mRNA than the brain form. As a first step in understanding the extra-neuronal function of DRP-3, the structure and expression of testis DRP-3 were examined. Testis DRP-3 cDNA showed the same sequence as brain DRP-3 cDNA, except for the 5'-terminal end, which encodes a 5'-untranslated region and the 11 N-terminal amino acid residues, indicating that the two forms of DRP-3 mRNA were transcribed from a single copy gene. Northern blotting analysis detected DRP-3 mRNA in 30-, 40- and 70-day-old, but not in 10- and 20-day-old testes. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that the expression of DRP-3 in testis is restricted to post-meiotic round spermatids. This is the first report of the expression of DRP genes in extra-neuronal cells.

Nuclear envelope remodelling during rat spermiogenesis: distribution and expression pattern of LAP2/thymopoietins

Lamina-associated polypeptide 2 (LAP2) and the thymopoietins (TPs) are a family of proteins described in somatic cells of mammals, which are derived by alternative splicing from a single gene. For one of the members of the family (LAP2 = TPbeta) it has been shown that this integral membrane protein locates to the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope, and that it binds to chromatin and B-type lamins. In the present study, we observed that during the third phase of spermatogenesis (i.e. spermiogenesis), TP-labelling shifted progressively to one half of the nuclear periphery in round spermatids. In the elongating spermatid the signal then becomes restricted to one spot located at the posterior (centriolar) pole of the nucleus. Changes in localization are accompanied by the disappearance, first of TPgamma, and later on of LAP2/TPbeta. TPalpha is the only member of the family detectable in the mature sperm. Concomitantly, lamin B1, the only nuclear lamina protein known to be expressed in mammalian spermatids, showed a similar behaviour, i.e. shifted progressively to the centriolar pole of spermatid nuclei before it became undetectable in fully differentiated mature sperms. These results are the first demonstration that expression and localization patterns of TPs are coordinately and differentially regulated with lamins during a differentiation process.

Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels on the flagellum control Ca2+ entry into sperm

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels are key elements of cGMP- and cAMP-signaling pathways in vertebrate photoreceptor cells and in olfactory sensory neurons, respectively. These channels form heterooligomeric complexes composed of at least two distinct subunits (alpha and beta). The alpha subunit of cone photoreceptors is also present in mammalian sperm. Here we identify one short and several long less abundant transcripts of beta subunits in testis. The alpha and beta subunits are expressed in a characteristic temporal and spatial pattern in sperm and precursor cells. In mature sperm, the alpha subunit is observed along the entire flagellum, whereas the short beta subunit is restricted to the principal piece of the flagellum. These findings suggest that different forms of CNG channels coexist in the flagellum. Confocal microscopy in conjunction with the Ca2+ indicator Fluo-3 shows that the CNG channels serve as a Ca2+ entry pathway that responds more sensitively to cGMP than to cAMP. Assuming that CNG channel subtypes differ in their Ca2+ permeability, dissimilar localization of alpha and beta subunits may give rise to a pattern of Ca2+ microdomains along the flagellum, thereby providing the structural basis for control of flagellar bending waves.

Expression of the human antigen SPAG2 in the testis and localization to the outer dense fibers in spermatozoa

ABSTRACT Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) have been implicated in some instances of infertility. To characterize sperm antigens relevant to immunologic and immunocontraceptive development, SPAG2 (sperm-associated antigen 2) was identified by screening a human testis cDNA library with human sera positive for ASAs. Subsequently, two isoforms, SPAG2-1 and SPAG2-2, were identified in testis and placenta libraries, respectively. In the current study, Southern analysis of human genomic DNA with a probe common to the two SPAG2 isoforms indicated a single SPAG2 gene; therefore, alternative splicing is a likely mechanism for production of variant mRNAs. In situ hybridization of human testis sections demonstrated the expression of SPAG2 in primary spermatocytes, with decreased or arrested expression in postmeiotic cells. Immunofluorescence of Triton X-100-extracted spermatozoa with an anti-SPAG2 peptide antiserum indicate that SPAG2 is an intracellular component of the sperm flagellum. Electron microscopy refined this localization to the outer dense fibers (ODFs), structural filaments associated with the mammalian sperm axoneme. The ODFs have been reported to be composed of keratin-like intermediate filament proteins. However, SPAG2 does not exhibit the molecular characteristics of such proteins, nor does SPAG2 demonstrate sequence homology with previously characterized ODF proteins. Therefore, SPAG2 represents a novel protein of human sperm ODFs. Characterization of SPAG2 will further our understanding of ODF function in normal sperm motility and of flagellar abnormalities that lead to male infertility.

Dynamic changes in the subnuclear organisation of pre-mRNA splicing proteins and RBM during human germ cell development

RBM is a germ-cell-specific RNA-binding protein encoded by the Y chromosome in all mammals, implying an important and evolutionarily conserved (but as yet unidentified) function during male germ cell development. In order to address this function, we have developed new antibody reagents to immunolocalise RBM in the different cell types in the human testis. We find that RBM has a different expression profile from its closest homologue hnRNPG. Despite its ubiquitous expression in all transcriptionally active germ cell types, RBM has a complex and dynamic cell biology in human germ cells. The ratio of RBM distributed between punctate nuclear structures and the remainder of the nucleoplasm is dynamically modulated over the course of germ cell development. Moreover, pre-mRNA splicing components are targeted to the same punctate nuclear regions as RBM during the early stages of germ cell development but late in meiosis this spatial association breaks down. After meiosis, pre-mRNA splicing components are differentially targeted to a specific region of the nucleus. While pre-mRNA splicing components undergo profound spatial reorganisations during spermatogenesis, neither heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins nor the transcription factor Sp1 show either developmental spatial reorganisations or any specific co-localisation with RBM. These results suggest dynamic and possibly multiple functions for RBM in germ cell development.

Molecular cloning and characterization of meichroacidin (male meiotic metaphase chromosome-associated acidic protein)

We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a germ cell specific protein from an expression cDNA library prepared from the mouse testis, using testis-specific polyclonal antibodies. Sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence consisted of 284 residues, including a nominal repeat structure in the N-terminal region. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of a transcript of 1.3 kb exclusively expressed in the testis and ovary, but at relatively low levels in the ovary. In contrast, no other tissues and organs expressed significant levels of the transcript. Expression of the mRNA in the testis was first detected on day 14 in postnatal development. Western blot analysis showed the presence of the protein with a molecular weight of approximately 40 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.9. The protein was exclusively found in the testis and ovary, but in a far lesser amount in the ovary as was the case with the transcript. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the protein was predominantly present in the cytoplasm in pachytene spermatocytes through to round spermatids. However, during the disappearance of the nuclear envelope at both the first and second meiotic divisions, the protein was localized around the metaphase chromosomes and spindles. Because of this, the name meichroacidin which stands for male meiotic metaphase chromosome-associated acidic protein is proposed for this antigen. The highly regulated stage-specific expression of meichroacidin and its specific association with the metaphase chromosomes and spindles suggest that the protein plays important roles in male meiosis.

Molecular cloning of human testis mRNA specifically expressed in haploid germ cells, having structural homology with the A-kinase anchoring proteins

We have cloned a human testis specific gene (hi), which encodes for a protein having regional homologies to the domain of A-kinase anchoring proteins. Open reading frame encodes a protein of 860 amino acids. The predicted protein has a molecular weight 95.8 kD and contains 32 cysteine residues and 34 potential phosphorylation sites. The deduced protein analysis revealed an eukaryotic secretory signal with a potential cleavage site. Northern blot analysis detected a single transcript of approximately 3.0 kb in testis and not in any other somatic tissues. Expression of hi transcript was observed only in round spermatids indicating post meiotic haploid gene expression.

Gene expression of mouse M1 and M2 pyruvate kinase isoenzymes correlates with differential poly[A] tract extension of their mRNAs during the development of spermatogenesis

In eukaryotes, different isoenzymes for pyruvate kinase have been characterized. M2-type Pk cDNA from a mouse fetal ovary library was isolated and differential expression for M1 and M2-types during testis development was observed. While the presence of M2 mRNAs decreases throughout the development of spermatogenesis, we deduced that M1 type expression increases in adult testis coinciding with the presence of elongating spermatids in the seminiferous epithelium. Polyadenylation tests showed a concurrent increase in the length of the polyadenylation tail of transcribed M1-type pyruvate kinase mRNAs in prepuberal to adult seminiferous tubules. A similar relationship between poly[A] tail extension and differential increase of gene expression was detected for M1-type mRNA in adult brain and muscle. Length of poly[A] tail of M2-type transcripts is shown to decrease during the development of mouse testis. These results suggest that changes in the length of the poly[A] tail of transcripts are associated with differential expression of both regulated isoenzymes during testicular development.

Characterization and expression of a stage specific antigen by monoclonal antibody TRA 54 in testicular germ cells

To study the mechanism of spermatogenesis, we have isolated many monoclonal antibodies (mAb) which recognize specific steps of mouse germ cell differentiation and then have evaluated the specific expression and characterization of antigenic molecules using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Monoclonal antibody TRA 54 recognized specific organelles in germ cell cytoplasm from spermatocytes to spermatids; that is, a large granule was stained in mid-late pachytene, diplotene and secondary spermatocytes and in round spermatids at stage I while the acrosome of spermatids at steps 2-3 to step 12 were also positive. Thereafter, the antigens disappeared from spermatids at more advanced stages of differentiation. Western blots using TRA 54 revealed broad bands with approximate molecular weights of >200, 190 and 85 kDa in the testis. The expression of these antigens during testicular germ cell development should be of interest in relation to the biogenesis of organelles such as the chromatoid body and acrosome and will be a useful stage-specific molecular marker for the study of spermatogenesis.

Mammalian sperm morphometry

Understanding the adaptive significance of sperm form and function has been a challenge to biologists because sperm are highly specialized cells operating at a microscopic level in a complex environment. A fruitful course of investigation has been to use the comparative approach. This comparative study attempts to address some fundamental questions of the evolution of mammalian sperm morphometry. Data on sperm morphometry for 445 mammalian species were collated from published sources. I use contemporary phylogenetic analysis to control for the inherent non-independence of species and explore relationships between the morphometric dimensions of the three essential spermatozoal components: head, mid-piece and flagellum. Energy for flagellar action is metabolized by the mitochondrial-dense mid-piece and these combine to propel the sperm head, carrying the male haplotype, to the ovum. I therefore search for evolutionary associations between sperm morphometry and body mass, karyotype and the duration of oestrus. In contrast to previous findings, there is no inverse correlation between body weight and sperm length. Sperm mid-piece and flagellum lengths are positively associated with both head length and area, and the slopes of these relationships are discussed. Flagellum length is positively associated with mid-piece length but, in contrast to previous research and after phylogenetic control, I find no relationship between flagellum length and the volume of the mitochondrial sheath. Sperm head dimensions are not related to either genome mass or chromosome number, and there are no relationships between sperm morphometry and the duration of oestrus.

Expression of a testis-specific putative actin-capping protein associated with the developing acrosome during rat spermiogenesis

Actin-capping proteins are ubiquitous components of mammalian cells. They are known to regulate the polymerization state of actin and hence indirectly control the activity of the cytoskeleton and cell shape. As part of our investigation into the molecular mechanisms that direct differentiation of a round spermatid into an elongating spermatozoa, we report on a testis-specific 1.7-kb transcript from rat testis with sequence similarities to the alpha subunit of actin-capping proteins (ACPs) from somatic cells. The transcript contains a putative cAMP-responsive motif (CREM) upstream of the initiation codon in the DNA sequence and is expressed postmeiotically, first appearing between 20 and 30 days of postnatal development. The primary amino acid sequence is 90% identical to that of a previously identified testis-specific mouse protein, gsg3, both showing approximately 40% homology to the alpha subunit of somatic ACPs. An affinity-purified polyclonal antibody to a synthetic peptide derived from the rat transcript identified a 32-kDa protein on Western blots of testicular extracts. Indirect immunofluorescent localization of the protein on frozen sections of adult rat testis showed that it is intracellular and accumulates asymmetrically in the cytoplasm of round spermatids coincident with the position of the developing acrosome. This spatial expression parallels the distribution of F-actin during sperm differentiation, supporting the hypothesis that testis-specific ACPs have an important role in determining the final shape of mature sperm heads. A disturbance in the expression of these ACPs may underlie many of the abnormalities in sperm morphology observed in infertile semen.

Reduced fertility in mice deficient for the POU protein sperm-1

Members of the POU-homeodomain gene family encode transcriptional regulatory molecules that play important roles in terminal differentiation of many organ systems. Sperm-1 (Sprm-1) is a POU domain factor that is exclusively expressed in the differentiating male germ cell. We show here that the Sprm-1 protein is expressed in the haploid spermatid and that 129/Sv Sprm-1(-/-) mice are subfertile when compared with wild-type or heterozygous littermates yet exhibit normal testicular morphology and produce normal numbers of mobile spermatozoa. Our data suggest that the Sprm-1 protein plays a discrete regulatory function in the haploid spermatid, which is required for the optimal function, but not the terminal differentiation, of the male germ cell.

Cloning and characterization of a testis-specific, developmentally regulated A-kinase-anchoring protein (TAKAP-80) present on the fibrous sheath of rat sperm

cAMP is important for the initiation of mammalian sperm motility. Previously we established that a type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase is tightly associated with the fibrous sheath of rat sperm. This unique cytoskeletal structure surrounds the 9+2 axonemal network in the principal piece of the flagellum. Association of the kinase to the fibrous sheath is mediated via its regulatory subunit, RII. An RII-binding overlay procedure was used to document that RII could specifically associate with fibrous sheath polypeptides of 120 and 80 kDa. In this study, we report the cloning of a rat testis-specific, developmentally regulated, RII-binding protein (TAKAP-80). A 1.2-kb cDNA clone, isolated by screening a rat testis expression library with 32P-labeled RII, hybridized to a 1.8-kb mRNA transcript present exclusively in testis. This transcript appeared at detectable levels at 30 days after birth. Over the next 10 days the mRNA levels increased greatly. This time interval corresponds to the initiation of spermiogenesis. The complete nucleotide sequence of TAKAP-80 cDNA was obtained by polymerase chain reaction and contained a continuous open reading frame of 502 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a clear demarcation of charged and hydrophobic amino acid residues. Amino acids 1-147 of the protein contained 45% charged residues, with lysine and arginine predominating. Similarly, amino acids 268-502 also contained a high percentage of charged amino acids (35%). In contrast, amino acids 148-267 were mostly hydrophobic and contained clusters of a repeating PXXP motif where X was predominantly valine and alanine or sometimes proline. The 1.2-kb cDNA clone was inserted into the pRSET vector and expressed as a His6 tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was soluble and bound RIIalpha, RIIbeta and type IIalpha holoenzyme by the RII-binding overlay procedure. Deletion analysis revealed that the high-affinity interaction site for RII was contained within amino acids 258-378 of TAKAP-80. Antibodies prepared against the fusion protein recognized an 80-kDa protein present in the urea-insoluble particulate fraction of rat testis and in purified fibrous sheath preparations isolated from rat epididymal sperm. Levels of the 80-kDa immunoreactive protein were significantly higher in mature (60 days old) compared with immature (30 days old) rat testis, correlating with the mRNA levels.

Spermatocytes and round spermatids of rat testis: the difference between in vivo and in vitro protein patterns

During mammalian spermatogenesis meiotic cell division and spermiogenesis occurs. Gene expression during this process is temporally regulated at the transcriptional and translational levels but the mechanisms are not well understood. In this publication we have investigated the synthesis of proteins in vitro to detect the proteins with a high metabolic turnover and to compare them with the in vivo protein map. RNA of spermatocytes and round spermatid cell populations, purified by centrifugal elutriation, and total testis was isolated. The poly A+ mRNA fraction was translated using a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. The translation products were separated by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis using nonlinear 3.5-10 immobilized pH gradients for the first-dimensional separation. The gels with 35S-translated proteins were transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes and scanned using a phosphorimager. A highly reproducible and complex protein pattern was obtained using this methodology. Only rat testis messages were translated. Using Melanie 2 software we could compare and detect more than 1000 proteins on 2-D radioactive images. Some changes could be observed in protein expression between the different cell types but they were not statistically significant. The comparison between the 2-D rat testis map and the in vitro translated patterns show no matching between any spots. This result suggests that the post-transcriptional modifications occurring in the reticulocyte system are not the same as those that occur in vivo in the testis. Rabbit reticulocyte proteins were detected by staining PVDF membranes with colloidal gold. Rat testis and reticulocyte patterns were completely different.

Genomic organization of the mouse AZ1 gene that encodes the protein localized to preacrosomes of spermatids

The AZ1 protein is localized to the preacrosome region of spermatids. Previous developmental studies suggested that AZ1 gene transcription begins in pachytene spermatocytes and that expression of the gene is induced in cultivated fibroblasts on treatment with 5-azacytidine, which is known to lead to the demethylation of genomic DNA. In the present study, we cloned the gene coding AZ1 cDNA and elucidated its genomic organization. AZ1 cDNA was encoded by 25 exons distributed within 25 kb of genomic DNA. The transcription started at nucleotide positions -312 and -311 of the cDNA, with the A of the ATG codon specifying the initiator methionine assigned as nucleotide position +1. Exon 1 and a part of intron 1 of the AZ1 gene constituted a typical CpG island, and an about 0.2-kb sequence of the 5'-proximal region exhibited a G + C content and CpG ratio higher than the averages for the mammalian genomic sequence.

The transcriptional and translational control of diazepam binding inhibitor expression in rat male germ-line cells

The diazepam binding inhibitor [DBI, also known as acyl-CoA-binding protein, (ACBP), or endozepine] is a 10-kD protein that has been suggested to be involved in the regulation of several biological processes such as acyl-CoA metabolism, steroidogenesis, insulin secretion, and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A))/benzodiazepine receptor modulation. DBI has been cloned from vertebrates, insects, plants, and yeasts. In mammals, DBI is expressed in almost all the tissues studied. Nevertheless, DBI expression is restricted to specific cell types. Here we have studied DBI gene expression in the germ-line cells of rat testis. The DBI gene was intensively transcribed in postmeiotic round spermatids from stages VI to VIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle. A prominent, spermatid-specific upstream transcription initiation site was identified in addition to the multiple common transcriptional initiation sites found in the somatic tissues. However, no DBI protein was detected in round spermatids, suggesting that the DBI transcripts were translationally arrested. The DBI protein was detected in the late spermatogenic stages starting from elongating spermatids from step 18 (stage VI) onward. The DBI protein was also detected in mature spermatozoa and in ejaculated human sperms. The majority of DBI was located at the middle piece of the spermatozoons tail enriched with mitochondria. On the basis of this observation and the well-established role of DBI in acyl-CoA metabolism, we propose that DBI expression in spermatozoa reflects the usage of fatty acids as a primary energy source by spermatozoa. The biological function of DBI in spermatozoa could thus be related to the motility function of sperm.

A single mouse gene encodes the mitochondrial transcription factor A and a testis-specific nuclear HMG-box protein

Mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) is a key regulator of mammalian mitochondrial DNA transcription. We report here that a testis-specific isoform of mouse mtTFA lacks the mitochondrial targeting sequence and is present in the nucleus of spermatocytes and elongating spermatids, thus representing the first reported mammalian gene encoding protein isoforms targeted for the mitochondria or the nucleus. The presence of the mitochondrial transcriptional activator in the nucleus raises the possibility of a role for this protein in both genetic systems. Mutations in the nuclear mtTFA gene may therefore exhibit phenotypic consequences due to altered function in either or both genetic compartments.

Identification of two Sox17 messenger RNA isoforms, with and without the high mobility group box region, and their differential expression in mouse spermatogenesis

The different mRNA isoforms of the mouse Sox17 gene were isolated from adult mouse testis cDNAs. One form (referred to as form Sox17) encodes an Sry-related protein of 419 amino acids containing a single high mobility group box near the NH2-terminus, while the other form (referred to as form t-Sox17) shows a unique mRNA isoform of the Sox17 gene with a partial deletion of the HMG box region. Analysis of genomic DNA revealed that these two isoforms were produced at least by alternative splicing of the exon corresponding to the 5' untranslated region and NH2-terminal 102 amino acids. RNA analyses in the testis revealed that form Sox17 began at the pachytene spermatocyte stage and was highly accumulated in round spermatids. Protein analyses revealed that t-Sox17 isoforms, as well as Sox17 isoforms, were translated into the protein products in the testis, although the amount of t-Sox17 products is lower in comparison to the high accumulation of t-Sox17 mRNA. By the electrophoretic mobility-shift assay and the random selection assay using recombinant Sox17 and t-Sox17 proteins, Sox17 protein is a DNA-binding protein with a similar sequence specificity to Sry and the other members of Sox family proteins, while t-Sox17 shows no apparent DNA-binding activity. Moreover, by a cotransfection experiment using a luciferase reporter gene, Sox17 could stimulate transcription through its binding site, but t-Sox17 had little effect on reporter gene expression. Thus, these findings suggest that Sox17 may function as a transcriptional activator in the premeiotic germ cells, and that a splicing switch into t-Sox17 may lead to the loss of its function in the postmeiotic germ cells.

Severe impairment of spermatogenesis in mice lacking the CREM gene

Spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process that occurs in several phases. A large number of genes have been identified that are expressed during spermatogenesis, but the biological significance of many of these is not yet known. We have used gene targeting to selectively eliminate the transcription factor CREM (cyclic AMP- responsive element modulator), which is thought to be important for mammalian spermatogenesis. Male mice deficient for all CREM proteins are sterile, as their developing spermatids fail to differentiate into sperm, and postmeiotic gene expression in the testis declines dramatically. The cessation of sperm development is not accompanied by decreases in the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone or testosterone. Our findings indicate that the CREM gene is essential for spermatogenesis, and mice deficient for this transcription factor could serve as a model system for the study of idiopathic infertility in men.

Isolation of a novel cDNA that encodes a protein localized to the pre-acrosome region of spermatids

We have identified a novel cDNA clone, named AZ1, obtained from a cDNA library of mRNA prepared from C3H10T1/2 cells that had been transiently exposed to 5-azacytidine, a potent demethylating reagent. The amount of transcript increased with 5-azacytidine treatment of C3H10T1/2 cells and the transcript was highly expressed in mouse testis. As the mutant mouse jsd/jsd, which has a defect in germ cell maturation, barely expressed the transcript, the message was expected to be expressed specifically in spermatocytes. The mRNA was detected at significant levels in the testes from mice aged 16 days after birth, suggesting that its expression started at the pachytene spermatocyte stage. The elucidated nucleotide sequence contained a 2841-nucleotide open reading frame, and the expected amino acid sequence had a molecular mass of 107,254 Da. Specific antibodies raised against the fusion protein including glutathione S-transferase revealed an approximately 130-kDa band of a translation product in testis and in cultured cells transfected with AZ1 cDNA in the expression vector on Western-blot analysis. The protein was localized to the pre-acrosome region of round and elongated spermatids. However, it was not detected at a more advanced stage of spermatids, i.e. just before their release from Sertoli cells. This protein may play an important role in spermatogenesis.

Male germ cell-specific alteration in temperature set point of the cellular stress response

Heat shock factor (HSF), a transcriptional regulator with heat-activatable DNA binding ability, mediates the stress-induced expression of eukaryotic heat shock protein genes. Previous results from this laboratory demonstrated that a preparation of mixed male germ cell types from mouse testis exhibited a lower temperature threshold for activation of HSF1 DNA binding relative to other mouse cell types (Sarge, K.D., Bray, A.E., and Goodson, M.L. (1995) Nature 374, 126). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the phenomenon of reduced HSF1 activation temperature is common to all testis cell types, both somatic and germ cell types, or whether it is a special property of male germ cells. The results show that a purified population of pachytene spermatocytes, one of the male germ cell types, exhibits a profile of reduced HSF1 activation temperature identical to that observed for the mixed germ cell preparation, with a threshold HSF1 activation temperature of 35 degrees C. Activation of HSF1 DNA binding in male germ cells by incubation at 38 degrees C is accompanied by the classic cellular stress response parameters of heat-induced HSF1 phosphorylation and increased expression of the hsp72 stress protein. In contrast, a preparation of somatic testis cell types exhibits HSF1 activation only at temperatures of 42 degrees C and above, a profile identical to that observed for mouse liver cells and mammalian cell lines. These results demonstrate that the phenomenon of reduced HSF1 activation temperature is a unique property of male germ cell types within the mammalian testis and demonstrate that HSF1 activated at this lower temperature threshold is fully capable of mediating a productive cellular stress response in these cell types.

Characterization of the testis-specific gene 'calmegin' promoter sequence and its activity defined by transgenic mouse experiments

We have cloned the genomic DNA of calmegin [(1992) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 7744-7749] and analyzed its promoter region. It contained GC-rich sequences and potential binding sites for AP 2 and Sp 1, but lacked the TATA sequence. The 330 bp 5' flanking sequence of calmegin genomic DNA fused with the CAT gene was used for the study of promoter activity in transgenic mice. The CAT gene activity was detected exclusively in testes, indicating that the 330 bp calmegin 5' sequence was sufficient for the testis-specific expression. The existence of testicular nuclear factors specifically bound to the putative promoter sequence was also demonstrated.

Primary structure of hepatocyte nuclear factor/forkhead homologue 4 and characterization of gene expression in the developing respiratory and reproductive epithelium

Members of the winged helix/forkhead family of transcription factors are believed to play a role in cell-specific gene expression. A cDNA encoding a member of this family of proteins, termed hepatocyte nuclear factor/forkhead homologue 4 (HFH-4), has been isolated from rat lung and rat testis cDNA libraries. This cDNA contains an open reading frame of 421 amino acids with a conserved DNA binding domain and several potential transactivating regions. During murine lung development, a single species of HFH-4-specific transcript (2.4 kb long) is first detected precisely at the start of the late pseudoglandular stage (embryonic day 14.5) and, by in situ hybridization, is specifically localized to the proximal pulmonary epithelium. The unique temporal and spatial pattern of HFH-4 gene expression in the developing lung defines this protein as a marker for the initiation of bronchial epithelial cell differentiation and suggests that it may play an important role in cell fate determination during lung development. In addition to expression in the pulmonary epithelium, RNA blot analysis reveals 2.4-kb HFH-4 transcripts in the testis and oviduct. By using mice with genetic defects in spermatogenesis, HFH-4 expression in the testis is found to be associated with the appearance of haploid germ cells and in situ hybridization studies indicate that HFH-4 expression is confined to stages I-VII of spermatogenesis. This pattern of HFH-4 gene expression during the early stages of differentiation of haploid germ cells suggests that HFH-4 may play a role in regulating stage-specific gene expression and cell-fate determination during lung development and in spermatogenesis.

Transient appearance of CRES protein during spermatogenesis and caput epididymal sperm maturation

In previous studies we identified an epididymal gene that exhibits homology to the cystatin family of cysteine protease inhibitors. The expression of this gene, termed CRES (cystatin-related epididymal and spermatogenic), was shown to be highly restricted to the proximal caput epididymal epithelium with less expression in the testis and no expression in the 24 other tissues examined. In this report, studies were carried out to examine CRES gene expression in the testis as well as to characterize the CRES protein in the testis and epididymis. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that within the testis CRES gene expression is stage-specific during spermatogenesis and is exclusively expressed by the round spermatids of Stages VII-VIII and the early elongating spermatids of Stages IX and X. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that CRES protein was transiently expressed in both the testis and epididymis. Within the testis the protein was localized to the elongating spermatids, whereas within the epididymis CRES protein was exclusively synthesized by the proximal caput epithelium and then secreted into the lumen. Surprisingly, the secreted CRES protein had completely disappeared from the epididymal lumen by the distal caput epididymidis. Western blot analysis of testicular and epididymal proteins showed that the CRES antibody specifically recognized a predominant 19 kDa CRES protein and a less abundant 14 kDa form. These observations suggest that the CRES protein performs a specialized role during sperm development and maturation.

Characterization of a novel spermatogenic cell antigen specific for early stages of germ cells in mouse testis

To study the mechanism of spermatogenesis during the premeiotic phase, a hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for early stages of spermatogenic cells was obtained. In immunohistochemical staining of adult testis, this mAb, designated as EE2, was able to react with type A to B spermatogonia and early meiotic cells, but not with Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and other somatic tissues. Precursor cells of type A spermatogonia (gonocytes) were also positive for EE2 in perinatal mouse testis. The antigenic molecule recognized by mAb EE2 was a novel glycoprotein with molecular weight of 114 kDa, which had affinity with Con A and WGA lectins, and was susceptible to N-glycanase, suggesting the presence of asparagine-linked sugar chains. Furthermore, EE2 antigen was found to localize on the germ cell surface. The specific expression of this antigenic molecule suggests that it may play an important role in early spermatogenesis, of which only a little information is available at present.

The muscle-specific phosphoglycerate mutase gene is specifically expressed in testis during spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a dramatic differentiation process which involves very selective but poorly characterized gene-expression patterns. To gain insight into this process, we have investigated the expression during spermatogenesis of the genes that encode phosphoglycerate mutase, an essential glycolytic enzyme for the spermatozoa energy supply. By using cDNA and genomic probes we demonstrate the presence in testis of a mRNA corresponding to the muscle-specific phosphoglycerate mutase which shows a longer poly(A) tail. This muscle-specific gene is submitted to developmental regulation during testis maturation and begins to be expressed at postnatal day 22, when germ cells start to enter into meiosis. Northern blot and in situ hybridization experiments show that in contrast to what happens during skeletal-muscle differentiation, PGAM-M gene expression during spermatogenesis is not coupled to constitutive phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM-B) gene repression. Thus, the muscle-specific PGAM-M gene constitutes a meiotic gene and therefore represents a very interesting model to study differential tissue-specific gene expression.

An isoform of transcription factor CREM expressed during spermatogenesis lacks the phosphorylation domain and represses cAMP-induced transcription

cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and modulator protein (CREM) regulate the transcription of cAMP-responsive genes via phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain amplification of RNA from male germ cells identify an alternatively spliced CREM isoform, CREM delta C-G, lacking four exons including those encoding the protein kinase A-regulated phosphorylation domain and the flanking glutamine-rich transcriptional activation domains. CREM delta C-G retains exons that encode the basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) DNA-binding domain, binds to cAMP response elements (CREs), and competitively inhibits binding of CREB and CREM to CREs. Expression of CREM delta C-G inhibits transcription of a CRE-containing chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter plasmid induced by endogenous CREB. Antiserum to CREM detects CREM delta C-G in elongated spermatids from rat testis. These observations indicate that CREM delta C-G is a unique form of a competitive negative regulator of CREB-mediated gene transcription expressed in a maturation-dependent manner in haploid germ cells. The developmental specificity of CREM delta C-G suggests that it may play a role in transcriptional regulation during spermatogenesis.

Developmental expression of poly(A) binding protein mRNAs during spermatogenesis in the mouse

The poly(A) binding protein (PABP), a conserved protein that binds to the 3' poly(A) tail on mRNAs in eukaryotic cells, has been implicated in the regulation of mRNA stability and translation. Two PABP cDNAs with different sequences were isolated from mouse testis cDNA libraries. The predicted amino acid sequence of one, PABP1, is nearly identical (98.9%) to human liver PABP, while 80% of the amino acids of the second, PABPt, are identical to mouse and human PABPs. Northern blots reveal that there is one major PABP mRNA species in liver, muscle, kidney, and brain, two in spleen, and at least four in testis. The levels of PABP mRNA in testis are 5-10-fold higher than in these somatic tissues, but surprisingly the vast majority of all PABP mRNA size variants sediment more slowly than single ribosomes, indicating strong translational repression. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays demonstrate that PABPt mRNAs are abundant only in testis. Northern blots of RNAs purified from highly enriched spermatogenic cells show that the high levels, multiple sizes of PABP mRNAs, and the PABPt mRNA are present in meiotic and early haploid spermatogenic cells, and are sharply reduced in late haploid cells. Comparison of the binding of PABP1 and PABPt to poly(A) Sepharose in vitro revealed subtle differences, even though PABPt contains substitutions for highly conserved aromatic amino acids that are thought to be necessary for binding to poly(A). The existence of two PABP isoforms in mouse spermatogenic cells could influence cytoplasmic gene expression during spermatogenesis.

Splicing components are excluded from the transcriptionally inactive XY body in male meiotic nuclei

The study of the effect of programmed cessation of transcription in a large nuclear domain, on the distribution of elements of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery, is the main aim of this paper. To this end, we took advantage of the nuclear partitioning of mouse spermatocytes early in meiosis into autosomal transcribing and XY nontranscribing compartments. This system also allows to extend this study to stages in sperm differentiation that are accompanied by reduction and eventual cessation of transcription. We show by indirect immunofluorescence in spermatogenetic cells that 1) fluorescent signals of the pre-mRNA splicing factors SF53/4 and SC35, of the Sm antigens, and of RNA polymerase II, are largely absent from the nontranscribing, X-inactivated compartment, but are abundantly present in the transcribing autosomal compartment and 2) the presence, gradual reduction, and absence of transcriptive activity in nuclei undergoing the sperm formation sequence are positively correlated with the fluorescence patterns of the antibodies against SF53/4, SC35, and the Sm antigens. These data suggest that cessation of transcription during spermatogenesis is accompanied by exclusion of the splicing machinery from nontranscribing chromatin to its vicinity.

Embryonic growth and the evolution of the mammalian Y chromosome. I. The Y as an attractor for selfish growth factors

The fitness of a mammalian zygote is affected by its probability of implantation and of postimplantation maintenance as well as the level of transplacental and transmammary uptake of resources. As with paternally expressed imprinted genes, in a species in which females are not obligately monogamous, a Y-linked sequence that can positively alter any of the above parameters could spread in a population even if it harms the prospects of other embryos. Such a selfish Y-linked gene could act as a sex ratio distorter. In contrast to autosomal imprinted loci, the patrilineal inheritance of the Y ensures that selfish Y-linked growth-promoting genes need not evolve a means to ensure correct parent-dependent expression rules. Thus, as the conditions for both their initial evolution and spread are relatively relaxed, the mammalian Y chromosome is expected to be an attractor for growth-promoting genes. Data from mice and humans indicate that, as expected and in contrast to the Y of flies, the mammalian Y harbours growth factors, sex ratio factors and multiple foetally expressed genes. The accumulation of Y-linked genes may also be explained in terms of sexual antagonism. Sexual antagonism and the model presented here are not mutually exclusive.

Sib competition and sperm competitiveness: an answer to 'why so many sperms?' and the recombination/sperm number correlation

Sperm, or inter-ejaculate, competition leads to the evolution of many sperm per ejaculate. However, sperm competition theory does not predict the correlation between sperm number and chiasma, or that between sperm number and haploid chromosome number. Firstly, we show that phylogenetic inertia cannot account for at least the latter relation, and secondly, a model is presented which incorporates sib competition (intra-ejaculate competition) and sperm competitiveness to explain the relation between sperm numbers and recombination and the question 'Why so many sperms?'. It is argued that if there are deleterious mutations which affect sperm competitiveness this will lead to sib or intra-ejaculate competition. If inter-ejaculate competition also exists, then there will be selection for increased recombination. A chiasmate male heterozygous for n mutations which reduce sperm competitiveness can produce gametes with 0...n mutations. The proportion of gametes with 0 mutations per ejaculate is s = 0.5n, which is a small fraction. This means that to ensure on average one sperm with 0 mutations per ejaculate, a chiasmate male must produce 1/s sperm. We may therefore expect that 1/s will be positively correlated with sperm numbers. If inter-ejaculate competition leads to an optimum sperm number of x, then the optimum number of sperm per ejaculate is x/s. Sperm numbers will be increased by: (i) the number of loci which affect sperm competitiveness in the haploid state; (ii) the mutation rate; and (iii) the recombination rate. A correlation between recombination rates and sperm numbers is therefore to be expected.

The silencer of mouse Pgk-2 consists of two discrete DNA elements that individually have no effect

Pgk-2 encodes a testis-specific phosphoglycerate kinase isozyme (PGK), and the expression of mouse Pgk-2 is activated during the spermatogenic pathway at the pachytene spermatocyte stage. We previously reported the identification of a silencer-like cis-acting element in a region between nucleotides (nt) -1404 and -685 of mouse Pgk-2, which could be responsible for the repression of Pgk-2 expression in somatic tissues and pre-meiotic testicular germ cells. In the present study, the silencer was precisely located within an 87-bp region between nt -882 and -796. This region contained two distinct sequences that individually bound factors present in nuclear extracts of mouse cultured cells and rat tissues. The two sequences, when aligned in tandem upstream from the Pgk-2 promoter, inhibited cat expression driven by the promoter in mouse erythroleukemia cells, whereas either sequence alone did not show any effect. The results indicate that the Pgk-2 silencer consists of two distinct DNA elements which do not individually influence promoter activity. Binding of distinct nuclear factors to each DNA element appeared to be required for the silencer action.

Sperm 1: a POU-domain gene transiently expressed immediately before meiosis I in the male germ cell

Members of the POU-domain gene family encode for transcriptional regulatory molecules that are important for terminal differentiation of several organ systems, including anterior pituitary, sensory neurons, and B lymphocytes. We have identified a POU-domain factor, referred to as sperm 1 (Sprm-1). This factor is most related to the transactivator Oct-3/4, which is expressed in the early embryo, primordial germ cells, and the egg. However, in contrast with Oct-3/4, rat Sprm-1 is selectively expressed during a 36- to 48-hr period immediately preceding meiosis I in male germ cells. Although the POU-domain of Sprm-1 is divergent from the POU-domains of Oct-1 and Oct-2, random-site-selection assay reveals that Sprm-1 preferentially binds to a specific variant of the classic octamer DNA-response element in which the optimal sequence differs from that preferred by Oct-1 and Pit-1. These data suggest that the Sprm-1 gene encodes a DNA-binding protein that may exert a regulatory function in meiotic events that are required for terminal differentiation of the male germ cell.

Identification of conserved potential regulatory sequences of the protamine-encoding P1 genes from ten different mammals

In order to detect regulatory conserved DNA elements within the protamine 1-encoding gene (P1) promoter, we have sequenced this region from the rat, guinea pig, gorilla, orangutan, anubis baboon and red monkey P1 genes and compared it to the homologous human, bull, boar and mouse nucleotide (nt) sequences. We demonstrate the presence of a consensus sequence, HSMCYTCAYAAT (Prot1C: protamine 1 consensus), from nt position -64 to position -53 in all P1 genes whose promoter sequences are now known. We also show that sequences similar to Prot1C are found in the promoter region of other testis-specific genes, such as the transition protein 1-encoding gene promoter which is thought to have derived from the P1 genes. The relevance of this conserved element in the expression of P1 genes is strongly supported by the recent demonstration of a mouse testis trans-acting factor [Tet-1; Tamura et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267 (1992) 4327-4332] which binds and matches in the mouse the first 11 bp of the corresponding consensus Prot1C sequence reported here. Another highly conserved element (TGTGAGG) has been identified 20 +/- 3 nt upstream from Prot1C. This sequence forms a perfect palindrome with the central 7 nt of Prot1C and is absent in the homologous region of other genes. Further upstream, at positions -113 to -132, a third highly conserved region is present (MATGCCCATATWTGGRCAYG) which is similar to the c-fos SRE (serum-response element) and contains the central core common to all SREs. This element has not been found in the homologous region of other sperm-specific genes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression of a gene duplication encoding conserved sperm tail proteins is translationally regulated in Drosophila melanogaster

We have analyzed a locus of Drosophila melanogaster located at 98C on chromosome 3, which contains two tandemly arranged genes, named Mst98Ca and Mst98Cb. They are two additional members of the Mst(3)CGP gene family by three criteria. (i) Both genes are exclusively transcribed in the male germ line. (ii) Both transcripts encode a protein with a high proportion of the repetitive motif Cys-Gly-Pro. (iii) Their expression is translationally controlled; while transcripts can be detected in diploid stages of spermatogenesis, association with polysomes can be shown only in haploid stages of sperm development. The genes differ markedly from the other members of the gene family in structure; they do not contain introns, they are of much larger size, and they have the Cys-Gly-Pro motifs clustered at the carboxy-terminal end of the encoded proteins. An antibody generated against the Mst98Ca protein recognizes both Mst98C proteins in D. melanogaster. In a male-sterile mutation in which spermiogenesis is blocked before individualization of sperm, both of these proteins are no longer synthesized. This finding provides proof of late translation for the Mst98C proteins and thereby independent proof of translational control of expression. Northern (RNA) and Western immunoblot analyses indicate the presence of homologous gene families in many other Drosophila species. The Mst98C proteins share sequence homology with proteins of the outer dense fibers in mammalian spermatozoa and can be localized to the sperm tail by immunofluorescence with an anti-Mst98Ca antibody.

Expression of a gene duplication encoding conserved sperm tail proteins is translationally regulated in Drosophila melanogaster

We have analyzed a locus of Drosophila melanogaster located at 98C on chromosome 3, which contains two tandemly arranged genes, named Mst98Ca and Mst98Cb. They are two additional members of the Mst(3)CGP gene family by three criteria. (i) Both genes are exclusively transcribed in the male germ line. (ii) Both transcripts encode a protein with a high proportion of the repetitive motif Cys-Gly-Pro. (iii) Their expression is translationally controlled; while transcripts can be detected in diploid stages of spermatogenesis, association with polysomes can be shown only in haploid stages of sperm development. The genes differ markedly from the other members of the gene family in structure; they do not contain introns, they are of much larger size, and they have the Cys-Gly-Pro motifs clustered at the carboxy-terminal end of the encoded proteins. An antibody generated against the Mst98Ca protein recognizes both Mst98C proteins in D. melanogaster. In a male-sterile mutation in which spermiogenesis is blocked before individualization of sperm, both of these proteins are no longer synthesized. This finding provides proof of late translation for the Mst98C proteins and thereby independent proof of translational control of expression. Northern (RNA) and Western immunoblot analyses indicate the presence of homologous gene families in many other Drosophila species. The Mst98C proteins share sequence homology with proteins of the outer dense fibers in mammalian spermatozoa and can be localized to the sperm tail by immunofluorescence with an anti-Mst98Ca antibody.

CFTR expression is regulated during both the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and the oestrous cycle of rodents

Severely reduced fertility is a common finding in cystic fibrosis (CF). We used in situ hybridization to examine the cell-specific expression of CFTR in the reproductive organs of rodents. In males CFTR mRNA is found in the round spermatids (spermatogenic stages V-X) and in the principal cells that line the initial segment of the epididymis. In both the testis and the epididymis, CFTR expression is developmentally regulated suggesting that the defect in the genital tract of male CF patients is of developmental origin. CFTR expression in the luminal and glandular epithelium of the uterus is regulated during the oestrous cycle and is maximal at pro-oestrus. Our results provide a biological rationale for the reduced fertility of CF patients, and suggest a possible cause for the comparatively poorer prognosis for women with CF.

A factor stimulating transcription of the testis-specific Pgk-2 gene recognizes a sequence similar to the binding site for a transcription inhibitor of the somatic-type Pgk-1 gene

The glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) consists of two isozymes, somatic-type PGK-1 and testis-specific PGK-2. The isozyme switch from PGK-1 to PGK-2 occurs during spermatogenesis at the mRNA level. The distal upstream region of the gene encoding mouse PGK-2 (Pgk-2) possesses a silencer-like negative cis element. In the present study, a positive cis element located in the proximal upstream region and factor(s) bound to it were analyzed in vitro. Cell-free transcription using nuclear extracts of rat organs demonstrated that the region between nucleotide positions -82 and -64, relative to the most distal transcription initiation site at +1, stimulates transcription in testis extracts. The cis element did not act on the promoter of the thymidine kinase gene, suggesting that it stimulates Pgk-2 transcription in a promoter-specific manner. The cis element bound a nuclear factor(s), which we designated TAP-1. Introducing various base substitutions within the cis element revealed that TAP-1-binding to the element requires the sequence 5'-GGAA-3', which is the binding motif for Ets oncoproteins. We previously reported that TIN-1, a transcription inhibitor of Pgk-1, binds to a sequence similar to the Ets-binding site. The addition of an oligo DNA containing the TIN-1-binding sequence of Pgk-1 prevented TAP-1 from binding to the Pgk-2 cis element, and vice versa. These results suggest that both TIN-1 and TAP-1, which are presumably involved in transcription regulation of the two Pgk genes, recognize DNA sequences related to the Ets-binding motif.

Creating a conditional mutation of Wnt-1 by antisense transgenesis provides evidence that Wnt-1 is not essential for spermatogenesis

We have used mice transgenic for an antisense construct for Wnt-1 to study the role of this gene in post-meiotic sperm development. The human PGK-2 promoter provided levels of Wnt-1 antisense mRNA in testes in 5 transgenic lines greatly in excess of Wnt-1 mRNA concentrations, and Wnt-1 mRNA levels were greatly decreased in the lines, by 98% in three of them. There was a general correlation between copy number of the insert, levels of antisense RNA, and decreases in mRNA. There was little effect of the antisense transgene on fertility or testicular histology suggesting that normal levels of Wnt-1 transcript are not essential for spermatogenesis.