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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) [Supplemental Data] All Versions of this Article: 76/6/1103    most recent biolreprod.106.059626v2 biolreprod.106.059626v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Avellar, M. C. W. Articles by Hall, S. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Avellar, M. C. W. Articles by Hall, S. H. Agricola Articles by Avellar, M. C. W. Articles by Hall, S. H.

Novel Aspects of the Sperm-Associated Antigen 11 (SPAG11) Gene Organization and Expression in Cattle (Bos taurus)¹

Section of Experimental Endocrinology,⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo 04044-020, Brazil Departments of Pediatrics⁵ and Cell Biology and Anatomy,⁶ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7500

ABSTRACT

Beta-defensins are small cationic peptides exhibiting broad spectrum antimicrobial properties. In humans, many beta-defensin genes are located within a cluster on chromosome 8p23. The sperm associated antigen 11 (SPAG11) gene is contained in this cluster and is unusual among the human beta-defensins due to its complex genomic structure and mRNA splicing pattern. Here we report the genomic organization of the Bos taurus SPAG11 gene located on chromosome 27q1.2, within a cluster of beta-defensin genes. The exon structures of the fused bovine SPAG11 gene and of the mosaic transcripts initiated at both A and B promoters were established, including identification of novel exons and transcripts not previously found in primate or rodent. Evolutionary analysis against primate, rodent, canine, and porcine orthologs was performed. In adult bulls SPAG11C, SPAG11E, and SPAG11U mRNAs were detected predominantly in the male reproductive tract, while SPAG11D transcript was detected in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues and SPAG11V and SPAG11W mRNAs were confined to testis. Differential expression of all six transcripts was observed in tissues from fetal and adult bulls, suggesting that similar mRNA splicing mechanisms govern SPAG11 gene expression during pre- and postnatal development. Immunolocalization of SPAG11C and SPAG11D/E was demonstrated in the epithelium of the epididymis and testis, and SPAG11D in association with epididymal spermatozoa. Recombinant full-length SPAG11D protein was strongly antibacterial, while the SPAG11E C-terminal peptide that contains the beta-defensin motif in its structure was somewhat less potent. Taken together, the results suggest that SPAG11 isoforms perform both immune and reproductive functions in cattle.

antibacterial, bovine, defensin, epididymis, gene expression, gene regulation, male reproductive tract, SPAG11

³Current address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Podicherry, 605014, India.

¹Supported partially by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, grant number 05/55738-8), Brazil, and by the Fogarty International Center Program for Training and Research in Population and Health, USA D43TW/HD00627 (subcontract UNIFESP/UNC 5-53284). Support was provided by the CICCR Program of the Contraceptive Research and Development Program, Eastern Virginia Medical School. The views expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the views of CONRAD or CICCR. Also supported by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (R37-HD04466, through cooperative agreement U54-HD35041, as part of the Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction Research).

Correspondence: ²Maria Christina W. Avellar, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua 03 de maio 100, INFAR, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 04044-020. FAX: 55 11 5576 4448; e-mail: avellar{at}farm.epm.br