Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY
Volume 34, Issue 5, Pages E368-E377Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2010.01130.x
Keywords
blood-testis barrier; ectoplasmic specialization; spermatogenesis; USP26
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Funding
- Academia Sinica in Taiwan
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Ubiquitin Specific Protease 26 (USP26) is a little studied ubiquitin-specific protease that is expressed specifically in the testis. In humans, some USP26 polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with impaired male fertility. However, how USP26 affects male reproduction remains unclear. We generated an antibody that stained specifically cultured cells expressing an epitope-tagged USP26 and used it to elucidate the biological function of USP26. Immunostaining of mouse testis sections as well as dispersed germ cells showed the presence of USP26 at the blood-testis barrier, near the Sertoli cell-germ cell interface of post-step 7 spermatids, and coating the dorsal surface of sperm head. Further RT-PCR assays detected the expression of Usp26 in germ cells, but not in primary Sertoli cell lines. In addition, USP26 immunoprecipitated from testis lysates exhibited deubiquitinating activities. The localization of USP26 in the testis suggests a possible role in the movement of germ cells along the seminiferous epithelium.
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