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Asian Journal of Andrology (2009) 11: 478–483. doi: 10.1038/aja.2009.31; published online 8 June 2009.
The expression of Usp26 gene in mouse testis and brain
Jie Zhang1, Hong Tian1,2, Yong-Wei Huo1,2, Dang-Xia Zhou3, Hai-Xu Wang1, Li-Rong Wang1,2, Qiu-Yang Zhang1,2 and Shu-Dong Qiu1,2
1 Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
2 Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
3 Department of Pathology, Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
Correspondence: Dr Shu-Dong Qiu and Dr Qiu-Yang Zhang, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. Fax: +86-29-8265-5180 E-mail:qiusdxa@163.com or zhangqy@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Received 11 September 2008; Revised 9 April 2009; Accepted 15 April 2009; Published online 8 June 2009.
| Abstract |
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) play an important role in ubiquitin-dependent processes as negative regulators of protein ubiquitination. Ubiquitin-specific protease 26 (USP26) is a member of this family. The expression of Usp26 in mammalian testis and in other tissues has yet to be fully elucidated. To study the expression of Usp26 mRNA and protein in various murine tissues, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses were carried out. The RT-PCR analysis showed that the Usp26 transcript was expressed in all of the tested tissues. USP26 protein localization was examined by immunohistochemistry, and it was shown that USP26 was not detectable at 20 days postpartum, with the expression restricted to the cytoplasm of condensing spermatids (steps 9–16), Leydig cells and nerve fibers in the brain. In addition, the USP26 protein was detected at moderate levels in myocardial cells, the corpus of epidydimis, epithelium of the renal tubules and the seminal gland of postnatal day 35 mice. Its spatial and temporal expression pattern suggests that Usp26 may play an important role in development or function of the testis and brain. Further research into these possibilities is in progress.
Keywords: ubiquitin-specific protease 26 (USP26), Usp26 gene, deubiquitination enzymes, protein degradation,, spermatogenesis, mouse |
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