Tumor Suppression

Reports from McGill University, Department of Biochemistry describe recent advances in spermatogenesis

Tumor Suppression Library Library Home This article was published in Clinical Oncology Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Because we identified E3(Histone)/LASU1 from the testis, we explored its regulation during spermatogenesis. In the first wave of rat spermatogenesis, E3(Histone)/LASU1 mRNA and protein had peak expression at days 10 and 20, respectively, and decreased with age. Consistent with these findings, immunohistochemistry revealed that E3(Histone)/LASU1 was highly expressed in nuclei from spermatogonia to mid-pachytene spermatocytes. There was no obvious staining in spermatids, when histones are ubiquitinated and degraded. E3(Histone)/LASU1 was also expressed in other tissues. However, except in neuronal cells of the brain, expression was cytoplasmic," wrote Z. Liu and colleagues, McGill University, Department of Biochemistry.

The researchers concluded: "Thus, E3(Histone)/LASU1 may play a role in chromatin modification in early germ cells of the testis, but also has functions in other tissues."

Liu and colleagues published their study in Developmental Dynamics (Regulated expression of the ubiquitin protein ligase, E3(Histone)/LASU1/Mule/ARF-BP1/HUWE1, during spermatogenesis. Developmental Dynamics, 2007;236(10):2889-98).

For additional information, contact Z. Liu, McGill University, Dept. of Biochemistry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Publisher contact information for the journal Developmental Dynamics is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: Canada, Montreal, Enzyme Research, Ligase, Oncology, Spermatogenesis, Tumor Suppression.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.