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Regular Article |
a Department of Anatomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3Z6
b Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3
ABSTRACT
The seminiferous epithelium contains unique actin related cell-cell junctions, termed ectoplasmic specializations (ESs). Turnover of these junctions is fundamental to sperm release and to movement of spermatocytes from basal to adluminal compartments of the epithelium during spermatogenesis. In this study we report several novel observations related to the spatial and temporal distribution of integrin-related signaling molecules at ESs. We confirm the presence of ß1-integrin at these sites and further demonstrate co-localization of integrin linked kinase (ILK). ß1-Integrin and ILK were shown by immunoprecipitation to associate in whole cell lysates of seminiferous epithelium. This observation provides the first evidence for a direct ß1-integrin/ILK interaction in noncultured epithelium. Pan-cadherin and ß-catenin antibodies did not react at ESs. Rather, antibodies reacted with desmosome-like junctions that are present both at basal junctional complexes between Sertoli cells and at sites of attachment to spermatogenic cells. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a known integrin-associated molecule, did not codistribute with ß1-integrins and did not associate with these adhesion molecules in immunoprecipitation studies. Although FAK was expressed in the epithelium, it appeared to be limited to the cytoplasm of early spermatogenic cells. Significantly, polyclonal antibodies against phosphotyrosine-containing residues reacted strongly at ESs, with highest levels detected during sperm release and turnover of basal junction complexes. Our observations indicate that ESs share cell signaling features both of cell-cell junctions and of cell-extracellular matrix junctions.
1 Correspondence: David J. Mulholland, 2660 Oak Street, Jack Bell Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H 3Z6. FAX: 604 875 5654;djm{at}interchange.ubc.ca
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