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, [email protected]