Identification and characterization of reproductive KRAB-ZF genes in mice

• Published in: Gene Vol. 565; no. 1; pp. 45 - 55
• Main Authors: Jin, Sora, Choi, Heejin, Kwon, Jun Tae, Kim, Jihye, Jeong, Juri, Kim, Jaehwan, Ham, Sera, Cho, Byung-Nam, Yoo, Yung Joon, Cho, Chunghee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Gonads - cytology; Gonads - metabolism; HEK293 Cells; Humans; KRAB; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics; Male; Mice; Microarray; NIH 3T3 Cells; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Organ Specificity; Repressor Proteins - chemistry; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Zinc finger; Zinc Fingers; Atf2; Testis; Fbxo45; Ptpn11 (Shp2); Spermatogenesis; DBD; Vps54; Sptf; Spg; MTT; Microarray; Agfg1; Plk; Map4k4; Cep55; Fut8; ESC; KAP1; Ccny; Spcy; Zinc finger; Setd8; Bcl2l2 (Bcl-w); Ppp1cc; Cfdp1(Cp27); Zfp; HP1; Cdc7; Ebf3; Tomm70a; KRAB; ZF; Klf4; Etv5; Zbtb18; Chd4; Rpl23; Cul1; Mdm2; Dicer1; NuRD; Hnrnpl; Ezh2; Ugcg; HDAC; Rrm2b (p53R2); Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.03.059

The mammalian genome contains numerous genes encoding transcription factors that contain Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) and C2H2-type zinc finger (ZF) motifs (KRAB-ZF). In the present study, we identified KRAB-ZF genes expressed in the mouse testis or ovary, and selected three genes that exhibit gonad-specific or gonad-predominant expression. In vitro analyses showed that these gonadal KRAB-ZF proteins are localized in cell nuclei and are able to repress transcriptional activity. We further analyzed one of the gonad-specific reproductive genes, Zfp819, and found that it is expressed exclusively in spermatogenic cells. Overexpression of Zfp819 suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Microarray analysis of Zfp819-overexpressing cells allowed us to identify numerous, potential target genes. A number of the down-regulated genes were found to show gene expression levels inversely correlated with Zfp819 during spermatogenesis. Some of the down-regulated genes were previously reported to play significant roles in spermatogenesis and apoptosis. Collectively, our study provides the first comprehensive information regarding the expression of reproductive KRAB-ZF genes in mice and reveals potential functions of Zfp819. •We systematically identified KRAB-ZF genes expressed in the mouse gonads.•Zfp819 is expressed specifically in spermatogenic cells.•Overexpression of Zfp819 affected cell proliferation and induced apoptosis.•Microarray analysis identified numerous Zfp819-downstream genes having potential functions in spermatogenesis and apoptosis.