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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) [Supplemental Figure] All Versions of this Article: 79/6/1021    most recent biolreprod.107.067504v1 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 My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hu, Y. Articles by Sha, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hu, Y. Articles by Sha, J. Agricola Articles by Hu, Y. Articles by Sha, J.

RGS22, A Novel Testis-Specific Regulator of G-protein Signaling Involved in Human and Mouse Spermiogenesis along with GNA12/13 Subunits¹

Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine,⁴ Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China Reproductive Center of Subei People's Hospital,⁵ Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China

ABSTRACT

The heterotrimeric G-protein pathway controls numerous cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, membrane trafficking, and embryonic development. Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins are known to function at the G-protein level. Here, the functional role of a novel RGS protein, regulator of G-protein signaling 22 (RGS22), in the testis was investigated at the mRNA and protein levels. Our results demonstrate that RGS22 is a testis-specific gene. However, significantly decreased expression of RGS22 was found in the testes of patients with azoospermia. RGS22 was translated or posttranslationally modified into multiple proteins of different molecular sizes in prokaryocytes as well as in the testes. Its protein (NP_056483) was localized in spermatogenic cells and Leydig cells and could interact with guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha 12, 13, and 11 (GNA12, GNA13, and GNA11). Fragmental GFP-fusion protein tracking revealed that the N-terminal of RGS22 was localized in the nucleus. RGS22 and GNA13 were localized in the nucleus from the elongated spermatid stage onward. Indirect immunofluorescence studies revealed defective expression of GNA13 in macrocephalic and global nucleus spermatozoa. These findings suggest that their functions in this subcellular compartment are likely related to the postmeiotic developmental phase, spermiogenesis. RGS22 may also play a role in GNA13 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during spermiogenesis.

cytoskeleton, G-protein , subunits, nuclear translocation, RGS22, RGS proteins, spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis

¹The work was supported by grants from the China 973 Program (2006CB504002 and 2006CB944002), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30425006 and 30630030), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT0631).

Correspondence: ²Jiahao Sha, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China. FAX: 86 25 86862908; e-mail: shajh{at}njmu.edu.cn

³These authors contributed equally to this work.