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ISSN 0582-9879 Acta Biochim et Biophysica Sinica 2004, 36(5):351-359 CN 31-1300/Q

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Identification of a Novel Gene SRG4 Expressed at Specific Stages
of Mouse Spermatogenesis

Xiao-Wei XING, Lu-Yun LI, Gang LIU, Jun-Jiang FU, Xiao-Jun TAN, and Guang-Xiu LU*
( Human Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering Institute, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China )

Abstract Spermatogenesis is a complex process. Two spermatocytes expression sequence tags (ESTs) BG101130 and BG100990 were found. Their putative amino acid sequences have high homology with rat Spag4 (sperm antigen 4). By electrical hybridization, a novel cDNA encoding polypeptide of 348 amino acid residues was identified from a mouse testis cDNA library. The new gene was designated as SRG4 (Spermatogenesis related gene 4) (GenBank accession No. AY307077). Results of Northern blot and RTPCR revealed that SRG4 expressed specifically in mouse testis. Changes of SRG4 expression in mouse different development stages were observed by RT-PCR. The SRG4 mRNA was hardly detected in 2 weeks postpartum, and expressed abundantly from 3 weeks later, reaching top lever at 4-5 weeks, while slightly down in aging mouse testis. Results of in situ hybridization showed that SRG4 gene expressed abundantly in
spermatocytes, round spermatids. This indicated SRG4 gene may play an important role in mouse meiotic divisions of spermatocytes.

Key words gene cloning; testis; tissues expression pattern; in situ hybridization; spermatogenesis

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Received: December 22, 2003 Accepted: March 18, 2004
This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30371493) and the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 program) (No. G1999055901)
*Corresponding author: Tel, 86-731-4373187; Fax, 86-731-4497661; Email, lgxdirector@sina.com