RNase9, an androgen-dependent member of the RNase a family, is specifically expressed in the rat epididymis
RNase9, an androgen-dependent member of the RNase a family, is specifically expressed in the rat epididymis
复制标题
RNase9 是 RNase A 家族的雄激素依赖性成员，在大鼠附睾中特异性表达
DOI：
10.1095/biolreprod.106.054635
复制
发表时间：
2007-01-01
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Zhang, Yong-Lian
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Zhu, Chun-Fang;Liu, Qiang;Zhang, Yong-Lian
核糖核酸酶（RNase）超家族成员参与多种生物过程，包括RNA降解、抗病原体活性、血管生成和消化。在本研究中，我们基于与猕猴附睾核糖核酸酶9的同源性，通过计算机方法和基因组步移技术克隆了大鼠核糖核酸酶9基因。该基因位于15号染色体p14区，跨越两个外显子，与核糖核酸酶A超家族的其他成员聚集在一起。它包含1279个碱基对，编码182个氨基酸，其中包括一个24个氨基酸的信号肽，并且具有其他核糖核酸酶已知的独特特征。与其他成员不同的是，大鼠核糖核酸酶9的mRNA在附睾中特异性表达，尤其在附睾头和附睾体中，并且呈现雄激素依赖的表达模式，但在附睾炎动物模型中表达下调。核糖核酸酶9以一种主细胞特异性模式表达。有趣的是，附睾头的大多数主细胞表达核糖核酸酶9；然而，在附睾头远端，主细胞呈现棋盘样的免疫反应模式。我们还观察到核糖核酸酶9结合在精子的顶体区域。文中讨论了它在精子成熟过程中的潜在作用。
Members of the RNase superfamily participate in a diverse array of biological processes, including RNA degradation, antipathogen activities, angiogenesis, and digestion. In the present study, we cloned the rat RNase9 gene by in silico methods and genome walking based on homology to the Macaca mulatta (rhesus monkey) epididymal RNase9. The gene is located on chromosome 15p14, spanning two exons, and is clustered with other members of the RNase A superfamily. It contains 1279 bp and encodes 182 amino acids, including a 24-amino acid signal peptide, and it has unique features known from other RNases. Unlike those other members, the rat RNase9 mRNA was specifically expressed in the epididymis, especially in the caput and corpus, and exhibited an androgen-dependent expression pattern but was downregulated in an epididymitis animal model. The RNASE9 was expressed in a principal cell-specific pattern. Interestingly, most of the principal cells in the caput expressed the RNASE9; however, in the distal caput, the principal cells showed a checkerboard-like pattern of immunoreactivity. We also observed that the RNASE9 was bound on the acrosomal domain of sperm. Its potential roles in sperm maturation are discussed.