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Cellular ontogeny of RBMY during human spermatogenesis and its role in sperm motility

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Abstract

The Y-chromosome-encoded gene RBMY (RNA-binding motif on Y) is a male germline RNA-binding protein and is postulated to be a RNA-splicing regulator. In order to understand the roles of RBMY in different stages of male gamete maturation, the present study aimed at determining its cellular expression during spermatogenesis, spermeogenesis and in mature spermatozoa. In the spermatogonia (cKIT-positive cells), RBMY immunolocalized as two distinct foci, one in the nucleolus and the other in the subnuclear region; in the spermatocytes (cKIT-negative cells), the nucleus had punctuate staining with a subnuclear foci; in the pachytene cells, the protein was localized as a punctuate pattern in the nucleus spread along the elongating chromosomes. In the round and the elongating spermatids, the protein expression was polarized and restricted to the cytoplasm and in the developing mid-piece. In testicular and ejaculated sperm, RBMY was localized to the mid-piece region and weakly in the tail. Incubation of spermatozoa with the RBMY antibody reduced its motility. The spatial differences in expression of RBMY in the germ cells and the presences of this protein in post-meiotic cells and in transcriptionally inert spermatozoa suggest its involvement in multiple functions beyond RNA splicing. One such possible function of RBMY could be its involvement in sperm motility.

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Acknowledgements

The study was financially supported by grants from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). AS and VSP are grateful to ICMR for the Senior Research Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, JM Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India

    Shadaan Abid, Vrushali Sagare-Patil, Jyotsna Gokral & Deepak Modi

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  1. Shadaan Abid
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  2. Vrushali Sagare-Patil
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  3. Jyotsna Gokral
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  4. Deepak Modi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deepak Modi.

Additional information

MS received 10 July 2012; accepted 24 September 2012

Corresponding editor: Stuart A Newman

[Abid S, Sagare-Patil V, Gokral J and Modi D 2013 Cellular ontogeny of RBMY during human spermatogenesis and its role in sperm motility. J. Biosci. 38 1–8] DOI 10.1007/s12038-012-9281-8

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Abid, S., Sagare-Patil, V., Gokral, J. et al. Cellular ontogeny of RBMY during human spermatogenesis and its role in sperm motility. J Biosci 38, 85–92 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-012-9281-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-012-9281-8

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