TESSP-1: A novel serine protease gene expressed in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes of adult mouse testes

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Takano, Naoharu, Matsui, Hitoshi, Takahashi, Takayuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2005; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Alternative Splicing - genetics; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cercopithecus aethiops; COS Cells; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Glycoproteins - genetics; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Glycosylphosphatidylinositols - metabolism; Hormone metabolism and regulation; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; mouse; Open Reading Frames - genetics; protease; Protein Sorting Signals - genetics; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Serine Endopeptidases - genetics; Serine Endopeptidases - metabolism; spermatocyte; Spermatocytes - enzymology; spermatogonia; Spermatogonia - enzymology; TESSP-1; testis; Testis - chemistry; Testis - enzymology; Testis - growth & development; Vertebrates: reproduction; TESSP-1; Spermatogenesis; Rodentia; Monkey; Male; testis; Gene expression; Testicle; Male genital system; In vitro; Kidney; protease; spermatogonia; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cell line; Spermatocyte; Mouse; Adult animal; Primates; Molecular cloning; Localization
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20184

A cDNA encoding a novel type of serine protease, designated testis‐specific serine protease 1 (TESSP‐1), was cloned using mRNA isolated from the adult mouse testis. The open reading frame of this cDNA codes for a protein of 322 amino acids, which includes a hydrophobic signal peptide of 18 amino acids and an N‐terminal activation peptide of 34 amino acids. The protein has an additional hydrophobic amino acid sequence at the C‐terminus. Expression of the TESSP‐1 gene was restricted to the testis. TESSP‐1 mRNA expression initiated in the mouse testis at 2 weeks after birth, and its level increased steadily with sexual maturation of the animal. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that TESSP‐1 mRNA was expressed in type B spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stages between preleptotene and pachytene. The testis contained at least five distinct forms of TESSP‐1 transcript, which presumably resulted from alternative splicing of the mRNA, but only one of these transcripts encodes a complete, functional enzyme. Expression experiments using COS‐7 cells showed that TESSP‐1 was synthesized as a glycoprotein with N‐glycosylated carbohydrates. Tests also showed that the C‐terminal hydrophobic region of TESSP‐1 was important upon its binding to the membrane by anchoring through glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70: 1–10, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.