In:
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Informa UK Limited, Vol. 11, No. 3 ( 1991-03), p. 1448-1453
Abstract:
In the testis, germ cells which are separated from the serum by the blood-testis barrier rely primarily on the Sertoli cell to obtain nutrients. For example, transferrin synthesized by the Sertoli cell is important in delivering iron from the serum to the developing germ cells. Because of its role in the testis, Sertoli cell transferrin protein and mRNA have been extensively studied. By using RNA blot analysis of rat testicular tissue, we detected a transcript of 2.6 kb which is attributed to transferrin. In addition, we detected a novel mRNA of 0.9 kb which had sequence similarity to the 3' end of transferrin. This 0.9-kb mRNA was present in germ cells, but not Sertoli cells, liver, or brain. The primary source of this mRNA in the testis was round spermatids. Sequence analysis of a cDNA clone showed that this mRNA encoded a protein with sequence similarity to the carboxy terminus of transferrin. Polysome analysis indicated that this transcript was translated and may therefore have importance in the iron metabolism of germ cells. The evolutionary implications between the transferrinlike mRNA germ cells and the gene duplication event which resulted in the diferric binding of transferrin are discussed.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0270-7306
,
1098-5549
DOI:
10.1128/MCB.11.3.1448
Language:
English
Publisher:
Informa UK Limited
Publication Date:
1991
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1474919-1
SSG:
12
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