Aim: Identification of a novel gene in mouse testis and its relation to spermatogenesis.
Methods: Genes expressed during different developmental stages of the mouse testis were screened by DNA microarray. The results of chip analysis were authenticated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, as well as the tissue distribution of the selected genes. The characteristics of the selected genes were analyzed by bioinformatics tools.
Results: A novel gene, TSC77, was identified and located at the mouse chromosome 2G1. The full cDNA length of TSC77 was 2280 bp, with a 2046 bp open reading frame encoding a 681 amino acids protein with a predicted molecular weight of 77.17 kDa. The results of subcellular localization of GFP-TSC77 fusion protein indicated TSC77 protein was located in the nucleus of Cos-7 cells. The analysis of multiple amino acid sequence alignment showed that TSC77 protein was highly homologous with the human CAI40813 (C2orf26 gene, 76%), and rat XP_230651 (77%). Three putative domains including nicotine amide dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P))-nitrite reductase (NirB) domain, uncharacterized NAD flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent dehydrogenases (HcaD) domain, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase (Ndh) domain were predicted at the protein site 168-309, 187-245, 181-216, respectively. Gene expression anlysis showed that the mouse TSC77 is preferentially expressed in the mouse testis and its expression increased gradually from the day 9 to day 21.
Conclusion: Based on its expression during mouse development, TSC77 may play an important role during mouse spermatogenesis.