Chu S T, Lee Y C, Nein K M, Chen Y H
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Mol Reprod Dev. 2000 Sep;57(1):26-36. doi: 10.1002/1098-2795(200009)57:1<26::AID-MRD5>3.0.CO;2-4.
The cDNA sequence for 24p3 protein in ICR mouse epididymal tissue was determined by PCR using primers designed according to the cDNA sequence derived from 24p3 protein in mouse uterine tissue. In the present study, 24p3 protein was immunolocalized in the epithelial cells and lumen of mouse epididymis. Both immunoblot analysis for protein and northern blot analysis for mRNA level showed a declining gradient of 24p3 expression from the caput to caudal region of the epididymis. The 24p3 protein was undetectable in the testis. These findings suggest that the 24p3 protein is a caput-initiated secretory protein in the mouse epididymis. A postnatal study revealed that 24p3 gene expression occurred in mice at the age of 14 days, before the completion of epididymal differentiation. This expression remained at a constant level until epididymal differentiation was completed. We also found that the secreted 24p3 protein interacted predominantly with the acrosome of caudal spermatozoa. Our findings suggest that the epididymal 24p3 protein is a caput-initiated and sperm-associated gene product and may be important in the reproductive system.
利用根据从小鼠子宫组织中24p3蛋白推导的cDNA序列设计的引物，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）确定了ICR小鼠附睾组织中24p3蛋白的cDNA序列。在本研究中，24p3蛋白在小鼠附睾的上皮细胞和管腔中进行了免疫定位。蛋白质免疫印迹分析和mRNA水平的Northern印迹分析均显示，从附睾头到尾区域，24p3表达呈递减梯度。在睾丸中未检测到24p3蛋白。这些发现表明，24p3蛋白是小鼠附睾中由头部起始的分泌蛋白。一项出生后研究显示，24p3基因表达在小鼠14日龄时出现，此时附睾分化尚未完成。这种表达在附睾分化完成之前一直保持在恒定水平。我们还发现，分泌的24p3蛋白主要与附睾尾精子的顶体相互作用。我们的发现表明，附睾24p3蛋白是一种由头部起始且与精子相关的基因产物，可能在生殖系统中具有重要作用。
