Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The expression of the multiple splice variants of AQP8 in porcine testes at different developmental stages

Journal of Applied Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aquaporin 8 (AQP8) may be involved in cytoplasmic condensation and fluid formation in the vas deferens during the process of spermiogenesis. In the present study, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) combined with DNA sequencing technology, the splice isoforms of AQP8 post-transcriptionally formed by alternative splicing in porcine testis at various developmental stages were analysed, and the differences in the amino acid sequences encoded by the splice isoforms were compared. The results showed that a total of three splice isoforms of AQP8 mRNA, including full-length mRNA, were produced via alternative splicing in porcine testes at the four developmental stages. Because the number of bases removed during splicing was not an integer multiple of 3, the amino acid sequence and protein structure of AQP8 were significantly altered after alternative splicing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Bienert GP, Møller AL, Kristiansen KA, Schulz A, Møller IM, Schjoerring JK, Jahn TP (2007) Specific aquaporins facilitate the diffusion of hydrogen peroxide across membranes. J Biol Chem 282:1183–1192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calamita G, Mazzone A, Bizzoca A, Cavalier A, Cassano G, Thomas D, Svelto M (2001a) Expression and immunolocalization of the aquaporin-8 water channel in rat gastrointestinal tract. Eur J Cell Biol 80:711–719

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calamita G, Mazzone A, Bizzoca A, Svelto M (2001b) Possible involvement of aquaporin-7 and -8 in rat testis development and spermatogenesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 288:619–625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calamita G, Mazzone A, Cho YS, Valenti G, Svelto M (2001c) Expression and localization of the aquaporin-8 water channel in rat testis. Biol Reprod 64:1660–1666

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calamita G, Moreno M, Ferri D, Silvestri E, Roberti P, Schiavo L, Gena P, Svelto M, Goglia F (2007) Triiodothyronine modulates the expression of aquaporin-8 in rat liver mitochondria. J Endocrinol 192:111–120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elkjaer ML, Nejsum LN, Gresz V, Kwon TH, Jensen UB, Frøkiaer J, Nielsen S (2001) Immunolocalization of aquaporin-8 in rat kidney, gastrointestinal tract, testis, and airways. Am J Physiol Ren Physiol 281:F1047–F1057

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holm LM, Jahn TP, Møller AL, Schjoerring JK, Ferri D, Klaerke DA, Zeuthen T (2005) NH3 and NH4+ permeability in aquaporin-expressing Xenopus oocytes. Pflugers Arch 450:415–428

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoque AT, Yamano S, Liu X, Swaim WD, Goldsmith CM, Delporte C, Baum BJ (2002) Expression of the aquaporin 8 water channel in a rat salivary epithelial cell. J Cell Physiol 191:336–341

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hurley PT, Ferguson CJ, Kwon TH, Andersen ML, Norman AG, Steward MC, Nielsen S, Case RM (2001) Expression and immunolocalization of aquaporin water channels in rat exocrine pancreas. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 280:G701–G709

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jahn TP, Møller AL, Zeuthen T, Holm LM, Klaerke DA, Mohsin B, Kühlbrandt W, Schjoerring JK (2004) Aquaporin homologues in plants and mammals transport ammonia. FEBS Lett 574:31–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koyama N, Ishibashi K, Kuwahara M, Inase N, Ichioka M, Sasaki S, Marumo F (1998) Cloning and functional expression of human aquaporin8 cDNA and analysis of its gene. Genomics 54:169–172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu K, Nagase H, Huang CG, Calamita G, Agre P (2006) Purification and functional characterization of aquaporin-8. Biol Cell 98:153–161

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma T, Yang B, Verkman AS (1997) Cloning of a novel water and urea-permeable aquaporin from mouse expressed strongly in colon, placenta, liver, and heart. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 240:324–328

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuzaki T, Tajika Y, Suzuki T, Aoki T, Hagiwara H, Takata K (2003) Immunolocalization of the water channel, aquaporin-5 (AQP5), in the rat digestive system. Arch Histol Cytol 66:307–315

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McConnell NA, Yunus RS, Gross SA, Bost KL, Clemens MG, Hughes FM Jr (2002) Water permeability of an ovarian antral follicle is predominantly transcellular and mediated by aquaporins. Endocrinology 143:2905–2912

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saparov SM, Liu K, Agre P, Pohl P (2007) Fast and selective ammonia transport by aquaporin-8. J Biol Chem 282:5296–5301

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Smith CW, Patton JG, Nadal-Ginard B (1989) Alternative splicing in the control of gene expression. Annu Rev Genet 23:527–577

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tani T, Koyama Y, Nihei K, Hatakeyama S, Ohshiro K, Yoshida Y, Yaoita E, Sakai Y, Hatakeyama K, Yamamoto T (2001) Immunolocalization of aquaporin-8 in rat digestive organs and testis. Arch Histol Cytol 64:159–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verkman AS (2005) More than just water channels: unexpected cellular roles of aquaporins. J Cell Sci 118:3225–3232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang B, Song Y, Zhao D, Verkman AS (2005) Phenotype analysis of aquaporin-8 null mice. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2005(288):C1161–C1170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeung CH, Callies C, Tüttelmann F, Kliesch S, Cooper TG (2010) Aquaporins in the human testis and spermatozoa-identification, involvement in sperm volume regulation and clinical relevance. Int J Androl 33:629–641

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Youth Science Research Fund Program from Jilin Province (20140520176JH), the 55th Batch Face Funding Program from China Post-doctoral Science Fund (2014M551197), the Scientific Frontline and Cross Discipline Program from Jilin University's Basic Scientific Research Affair Expense (450060501490) and the Program of IRT1248. The authors thank Boxing Sun for the maintenance and care of the animals used in this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Zhang.

Additional information

Y. Gao and Q. Deng contributed equally to this article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gao, Y., Deng, Q., Zhang, Y. et al. The expression of the multiple splice variants of AQP8 in porcine testes at different developmental stages. J Appl Genetics 55, 511–514 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-014-0219-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-014-0219-8

Keywords

Navigation