[Cloning and characterization of a novel rat gene RSD-7 differentially expressed in testis].

OBJECTIVE

To isolate and identify the differentially expressed genes in spermatogenesis for the understanding molecular mechanism of spermatogenesis.

METHODS

Screening of the cDNA library, Northern blot, expression and purification in E. coli with GST expression system, immunocytochemical staining of testis sections were used.

RESULTS

(1) A cDNA fragment designated as RSD-7 was isolated from rat testis cDNA library. It was 1,238 bp in length, coding a protein of 232 amino acids with the GenBank accession number AF315467. The encoding protein of RSD-7 cDNA had a Ubiquitin-like domain. (2) Northern blot indicated that RSD-7 was uniquely expressed in rat testis, and in the testis RSD-7 emerged on the 30th postnatal day and expressed until 120th postnatal day. (3) Expression and purification of RSD-7 protein in E. coli with GST expression system and were used to obtain anti-RSD-7 antibody. (4) Immunolocalization of RSD-7 in rat testis revealed that it is expressed only in Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcription pattern of RSD-7 and localization of RSD-7 protein in testis have been made, which established the base for the functional study of RSD-7.