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Distinct patterns of expression of the β-1,4-galactosyltransferases during testicular development in the mouse

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Abstract

Glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications and it is clear that the single step of β-1,4-galactosylation is performed by a family of β-1,4-galactosyltransferases (β4-GalTs) and that each member of this family may play a distinct role in different tissues and cells. In this study, we characterized the gene expression of six β4-GalTs in mouse testis and analyzed the changes of galactosylation of testis glycoproteins during postnatal development. Northern blot analysis revealed that β4-GalT-I and β4-GalT-IV were expressed mainly in newborn mouse testis and that the expression of β4-GalT-II increased markedly and persisted at the highest levels in adult mouse testis. The expression of β4-GalT-III and β4-GalT-V, however, remained relatively at low levels during mouse testicular development. In contrast, the expression of β4-GalT-VI was undetectable in mouse testis. The gene expression of β4-GalT-II in mouse testis was further analyzed by in situ hybridization due to its unique expression pattern. Strong hybridization signals were detected in the seminiferous tubules and the expression varied among the different stages of spermatogenic differentiation. The distinct gene expression patterns of β4-GalTs in mouse testis could affect the differential galactosylation of testis glycoproteins, as revealed by lectin histochemistry analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gene Research Center, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University (Former Shanghai Medical University), Shanghai, People's Republic of China, 200032

    Dan Zhu, Aiguo Shen, Maoyun Sun & Jianxin Gu

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  1. Dan Zhu
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  2. Aiguo Shen
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  3. Maoyun Sun
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  4. Jianxin Gu
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Zhu, D., Shen, A., Sun, M. et al. Distinct patterns of expression of the β-1,4-galactosyltransferases during testicular development in the mouse. Mol Cell Biochem 247, 147–153 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024191829485

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