Sperm associated antigen 8 (SPAG8), a novel regulator of activator of CREM in testis during spermatogenesis

FEBS Lett. 2010 Jul 2;584(13):2807-15. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.05.016. Epub 2010 May 17.

Abstract

cAMP response element modulator (CREM)-mediated gene expression is an essential regulatory mechanism for germ cell differentiation. CREM and its coactivator in testis, ACT, activate the transcription of many essential genes for spermatogenesis. Sperm associated antigen 8 (SPAG8) is a testis-specific component that is expressed during germ cell differentiation. In this study, we found the pattern of SPAG8 expression largely overlapped with that of ACT during spermatogenesis and verified the association of SPAG8 with ACT. Furthermore, we showed that SPAG8 enhanced the transcriptional activation of ACT-mediated CREMtau by strengthening the binding of ACT to CREMtau. These results indicate that SPAG8 acts as a regulator of ACT and plays an important role in CREM-ACT-mediated gene transcription during spermatogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phosphorylation
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spermatogenesis / genetics
  • Spermatogenesis / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • FHL5 protein, human
  • Fhl5 protein, mouse
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • SPAG8 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • activator of CREM in testis (ACT)
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator