Expression analysis of a mouse orthologue of HSFY, a candidate for the azoospermic factor on the human Y chromosome

J Med Invest. 2006 Feb;53(1-2):117-22. doi: 10.2152/jmi.53.117.

Abstract

Heat shock transcription factor on Y (HSFY) is located in one of three candidate regions for azoospermic factor (AZF), AZFb on the Y chromosome. We and others have already revealed that some azoospermic males are missing the regions of the Y chromosome including HSFY. Previously, we showed that murine HSFY-like sequence [mHSFYL (Riken cDNA 4933413G11Rik)], which is the mouse orthologue of HSFY, is exclusively expressed in testis. The sequences encoding the presumed DNA-binding domain in HSFY and mHSFYL were found in other mammals such as dogs, cows and chickens. To elucidate mHSFYL expression in the testes in detail, we carried out in situ hybridization. mHSFYL was predominantly expressed in round spermatids. Furthermore, we clarified the intracellular distribution of mHSFYL in COS1 cells with HA- or GFP-tagged proteins. Both HA-mHSFYL and GFP-mHSFYL were located in the nucleus. Our results suggest that HSFY/mHSFYL may have evolutionarily conserved functions for spermatogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosomes, Human, Y / genetics*
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics*
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligospermia / genetics*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Species Specificity
  • Spermatids / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors