摘要
精子发生是一个多基因参与的复杂的生理过程,虽然人们克隆了一些与精子发生相关的基因,但迄今为止,人们对精子发生的分子机制了解有限,因而克隆相关的新基因,并研究其在理论上和实践上的功能仍然十分重要。该文从人类睾丸cDNA文库出发,以小鼠精子发生相关基因mTSARG7基因为电子探针,得到1个与人类的精子发生相关的新基因TSARG7(GenBank登录号为AY513610)。该基因的cDNA全长为2463bp,含有12个外显子和11个内含子,定位在人类8号染色体8p11.21上。TSARG7编码的蛋白质含有456个氨基酸,分子量为56.295kDa,等电点为9.13,为胞浆中非分泌性蛋白,具有磷酸酰基转移酶(PISC)的结构域,属于酰基转移酶家族的新成员,该家族成员具有脂质合成的功能。TSARG7和mTSARG7,TSARG7和Au041707分别具有97%的同源性。该基因在睾丸中特异表达,亚细胞定位在胞浆中表达。TSARG7mRNA在13岁的睾丸中开始表达,并且随着精子的发生和性成熟而稳定增加,热应急实验显示该基因的表达与温度相关。综上所述,该文克隆了人的1个新基因,该基因与精子的发生和性成熟相关。
A novel human gene TSARG7 （GenBank accession No. AY513610） was identified from a human testis cDNA library by using the mTSARG7 gene （GenBank accession No. AY489184） as an electronic probe. The gene whose full cDNA length is 2 463 bp containing 12 exons and 11 introns is located in the human chromosome 8p11.21. The predicted protein encoded by this gene contains 456 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 56 295 dalton and isoelectric point of 9.13. It is a new member of the acyltransferase family since its sequence possesses the highly conserved PlsC domain existing in all acyltransferase-like proteins. Two groups, the TSARG7 and mTSARG7, the TSARG7 and Au041707, share 97% identity in the 456 amino acids. Expression of the TSARG7 gene is restricted to the testis. Subcellular localization studies show that the EGFP-tagged TSARG7 protein was localized in the cytoplasm of GC- 1 cells. The TSARG7 mRNA expression was initiated in the testis of a 13-year-old boy, and its level increased steadily along with spermatogenesis and sexual maturation of the human. The results of heat stress experiment demonstrate that TSARG7 expression has a relation with temperature. In conclusion, our study suggests that we have cloned a novel human gene and this gene may play an important role in human spermatogenesis and sexual maturation.
基金
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30371493 , G1999055901).
