Abstract
Mouse spermatogenic cells are known to express HSP70-2, a member of the HSP70 family of heatshock proteins. The purpose of the present study was to characterize further the expression and localization of HSP70-2 in meiotic cells of mice and hamsters. After separating mouse spermatogenic cells into cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions, proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and detected with HSP-specific antibodies. Of several HSP70 proteins identified in the cytoplasm, only HSC70 and HSP70-2 were also detected in the nucleus. Immunocytological analyses of spermatocyte prophase cells revealed that HSP70-2 was associated with the synaptonemal complex. Surfacespread synaptonemal complexes at pachytene and diplotene stages labeled distinctly with the antiserum to HSP70-2. Synaptonemal complexes from fetal mouse oocytes failed to show any evidence of HSP70-2. Reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses of gene expression confirmed this sex specificity; Hsp70-2 mRNA was detected in mouse testes, but not ovaries. These findings are suggestive of a previously unsuspected sexual dimorphism in structure and/or function of the synaptonemal complex.
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Although the research in this article has been supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it has not been subjected to Agency review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use
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Allen, J.W., Dix, D.J., Collins, B.W. et al. HSP70-2 is part of the synaptonemal complex in mouse and hamster spermatocytes. Chromosoma 104, 414–421 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352265
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352265