Burke P S, Wolgemuth D J
Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
Nucleic Acids Res. 1992 Jun 11;20(11):2827-34. doi: 10.1093/nar/20.11.2827.
To begin to examine the function in the mouse testis of genes containing the zinc finger motif, we have screened an adult mouse total testis cDNA library with probes to a conserved region of zinc fingers. We have isolated cDNAs for a new murine zinc finger encoding gene that has been designated Zfp-37. Northern blot hybridization analysis revealed Zfp-37 transcripts at high levels in the testis, the only adult tissue in which Zfp-37 expression was observed. Zfp-37 was also expressed at lower levels in the mid-gestation embryo and placenta. The major testicular transcripts are 2.3 and 2.6 kb. A 4.0 kb transcript was detected at lower levels in the testis as well as in embryo and placenta. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analysis revealed that expression of Zfp-37 was most abundant in germ cells which have completed meiosis and are undergoing the complex morphogenetic changes of spermiogenesis. The pattern of expression of Zfp-37 and the presence of the zinc finger domain suggest that Zfp-37 may have a role in regulating spermiogenesis.
为了开始研究含锌指基序的基因在小鼠睾丸中的功能，我们用锌指保守区域的探针筛选了成年小鼠睾丸总cDNA文库。我们分离出了一个新的小鼠锌指编码基因的cDNA，该基因被命名为Zfp-37。Northern印迹杂交分析显示，Zfp-37转录本在睾丸中高水平表达，睾丸是观察到Zfp-37表达的唯一成年组织。Zfp-37在妊娠中期胚胎和胎盘中也有较低水平的表达。睾丸中的主要转录本为2.3 kb和2.6 kb。在睾丸以及胚胎和胎盘中检测到较低水平的4.0 kb转录本。Northern印迹和原位杂交分析显示，Zfp-37在已完成减数分裂并正在经历精子发生复杂形态发生变化的生殖细胞中表达最为丰富。Zfp-37的表达模式和锌指结构域的存在表明，Zfp-37可能在调节精子发生中起作用。
