Functional study on a protein involved in meiotic chromosome distribution

减数分裂是维持遗传信息世代不变的基本过程。虽然我们认为着丝粒在染色体分离中起着关键作用，但这一过程的生化细节却鲜为人知。在本研究的初始阶段，报告者假设在减数分裂中发生着丝粒的独特调控，因为减数分裂与染色体减半过程的有丝分裂明显不同。首先，他从睾丸中筛选编码DNA结合蛋白的DNA。Alphoid基因组dna作为靶蛋白的亲和材料固定在支撑基质上。将亲和柱的蛋白部分注射到小鼠体内，获得免疫血清。在大肠杆菌宿主中检测到多个表达重组蛋白的cDNA克隆。全长cDNA测序表明，该基因产物是一种富含谷氨酸的蛋白质（今天称为TRIM41）。通过荧光原位杂交确定该基因定位于人类染色体5q35.3。随后，他预期该蛋白与着丝粒区结合，并利用大鼠睾丸进行了免疫化学检测实验。与他的假设相反，该蛋白在成熟精子尾部的中间部分检测到非常强烈。减数分裂染色体的着丝粒在标本中表现出轻微的荧光信号。目前，TRIM41蛋白与着丝粒的假设作用之间的关系尚不清楚。

Meiosis is a basic process to maintain the genetic information constant through generations. Although we consider that centromere will play a key role in the separation of chromosomes, biochemical details of the process is little known. The reporter assumed at the initial phase of this study that an unique regulation of centromeres occurs in meiosis because meiosis is clearly distinguished from mitosis for the half-decreasing process of chromosomes. First, he screened cDNAs which code for DNA binding proteins from testis. Alphoid genomic DNAs were immobilized to supporting matrices as affinity materials for the target proteins. The resultant protein fraction of the affinity column work was injected into mice and immunized sera were obtained. The sera detected several cDNA clones which express recombinant proteins in E. coli host. Sequencing of a full-length cDNA shouwed that the gene product is a glutamic acid-rich protein (today the protein is known as TRIM41). The author determined that the gene is mapped to human chromosome 5q35.3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. He then expected that the protein binds centromere region and performed immunochemical detection experiments using rat testis. In contrast of his assumption, the protein detected very strongly at mid-piece of matured sperm tail. Centromeres of meiotic chromosomes exhibited slight fluorescence signals in the specimen. At present, relation between TRIM41 protein and an assumed role of centromeres is unknown.