The multi-copy mouse gene Sycp3-like Y-linked (Sly) encodes an abundant spermatid protein that interacts with a histone acetyltransferase and an acrosomal protein

Biol Reprod. 2009 Aug;81(2):250-7. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.075382. Epub 2009 Jan 28.

Abstract

Deletion analysis has established that genes on the Y chromosome are essential for normal sperm production in humans, mice, and Drosophila. In mice, long-arm deletions have an impact on spermiogenesis, with the most extensive deletions resulting in severe sperm head malformations and infertility. Intriguingly, smaller deletions are compatible with fertility but result in a distorted sex ratio in favor of females, and recently it was found that Y long-arm deletions are also associated with a marked upregulation of several X-encoded and Y-encoded spermatid-expressed genes. The mouse Y long arm encodes a number of distinct transcripts, each of which derives from multiple gene copies. Of these multicopy genes, the recently described Sly has been favored as the gene underlying the spermiogenic defects associated with Y long-arm deletions. To assess the candidacy of Sly, the expression of this gene was examined in the testis at the transcript and protein levels. Sly is transcribed after the first meiotic division in secondary spermatocytes and round spermatids and encodes two transcript variants, Sly_v1 and Sly_v2 (proteins referred to as SLY1 and SLY2). We raised an antibody against SLY1 which detected the protein in round and early elongating spermatids, where it is predominantly cytoplasmic. Yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that SLY1 interacts with the acrosomal protein DKKL1, the histone acetyltransferase KAT5 (also known as TIP60), and the microtubule-associated protein APPBP2. Together, these data suggest SLY1 may be involved in multiple processes during spermiogenesis, including the control of gene expression and the development or function of the acrosome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / genetics
  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Epididymis / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Library
  • Genes, Y-Linked*
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / genetics
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Lysine Acetyltransferase 5
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Seminiferous Tubules / cytology
  • Seminiferous Tubules / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Spermatogenesis / genetics*
  • Spermatozoa / cytology
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism*
  • Symporters / genetics
  • Symporters / metabolism
  • Testis / cytology
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Amino Acid Transport Systems
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SLY1 protein, mouse
  • Slc36a1 protein, mouse
  • Symporters
  • Trans-Activators
  • soggy protein, mouse
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • Kat5 protein, mouse
  • Lysine Acetyltransferase 5