Abstract
The unknown protein family 0224 (UPF0224) includes three members that are expressed in germ-line cells in mice: Gtsf1, Gtsf1l, and BC048502 (Gtsf2). These genes produce proteins with two repeats of the CHHC Zn-finger domain, a predicted RNA-binding motif, in the N terminus. We previously reported that Gtsf1 is essential for spermatogenesis and retrotransposon suppression. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns and functions of Gtsf1l and Gtsf2. Interestingly, Gtsf1l and Gtsf2 were found to be sequentially but not simultaneously expressed in gonocytes and spermatids. Pull-down experiments showed that both GTSF1L and GTSF2 can interact with PIWI-protein complexes. Nevertheless, knocking out Gtsf1, Gtsf2, or both did not cause defects in spermatogenesis or retrotransposon suppression in mice.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Argonaute Proteins / genetics
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Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
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Carrier Proteins / genetics*
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Cell Line
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Cells, Cultured
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Female
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Germ Cells / growth & development
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Germ Cells / metabolism*
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Immunoblotting
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Male
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Mice, 129 Strain
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Protein Binding
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Proteins / genetics*
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Proteins / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Spermatids / growth & development
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Spermatids / metabolism*
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Spermatogenesis / genetics*
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Testis / cytology
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Testis / metabolism
Substances
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Argonaute Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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GTSF1L protein, mouse
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GTSF2 protein, mouse
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Proteins
Grants and funding
The authors have no support or funding to report.