Anti-oxidant and Anticancerous Effect of Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill. ex Fr. Bond. et Sing) Mushroom on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro through NF-kB Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill. ex Fr. Bond. et Sing) is a medicinal mushroom, commonly called 'Agarikon'; it has traditionally been used to treat cough and asthma in the Mongolian population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the significance of biological activity of F. officinalis and evaluation of the antioxidant activity and anticancer activity of six fractions of F. officinalis residues (Fo1-powder form dissolved in ethanol, Fo2-petroleum ether residue, Fo3-chloroformic, Fo4-ethylacetate, Fo5-buthanolic, and Fo6-waterethanolic) against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: We performed in vitro studies of cell proliferation and viability assay, annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide assay, and NF-kB signaling pathway by immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that all six fractions/extracts have antioxidant activity, and somehow, they exert anticancerous effects against cancer cells. In cancerous cell lines (HepG2 and LO2), Fo3 chloroformic extract promoted the cancer cell apoptosis and cell viability, activated G2/M-phase cell cycle, and selectively induced NF-kB proteins, revealing as a novel antitumor extract. CONCLUSION: This study reports that Fo3-chloroformic extract is rich in antitumor activity, which was previously not investigated in cancer. To develop the impact of F. officinalis among natural products to treat/prevent oxidative stress disorders or cancers, further examinations of F. officinalis are needed to develop new natural drugs to treat cancer. However, this study assessed only one extract, Fo3-chloroformic, which has a significant impact against cancer cell lines.

Anti-oxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Mongolian Medicinal Plant Extracts and Structure Isolation of Gnetin-H Compound.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species are involved in the etiology and progress of many kinds of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. Epidemiological studies reported that fruits, vegetables, and wines containing a high percentage of phenolics and flavonoids showed a positive impact in treating inflammatory diseases, reducing cancer risk, and increasing life expectancy. OBJECTIVE: Some Mongolian medicinal plants were studied for their antioxidant activity and anticancer effects. METHODS: Selected Mongolian medicinal plant extracts were examined for their antioxidant activity by the DPPH-radical scavenging assay, the content of phenolics and flavonoids by Folin-Ciocalteu and the Dowd method, respectively, and anti-cancer activities in human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells by MTT assay. RESULTS: Methanol extract from Hippophae rhamnoides L. leaf and ethanol extract from Artemisia macrocephala Jacq. ex Bess. showed the highest efficiency to scavenge free radicals. Ethanol extracts from Hippophae rhamnoides L. grain and Paeonio anomala L. leaf showed the highest total phenolics content, whereas Hippophae rhamnoides L. fruit methanol extract and ethanol extract from Caragana leucophloea pojark. mentioned the highest flavonoids content. The Artemisia macrocephala Jacq. ex Bess seed wallet and Paeonia anomala L. seed wallet showed the most potent antiproliferative effects against human liver cancer HepG2 cell line. Gnetin-H compound was isolated from the Paeonio anomala L. seed wallet extract, and its molecular structure was determined by 1H and 13C NMR spectrum and IR spectroscopy methods. CONCLUSION: The screening study on anti-oxidative effects of 21 extracts from 15 Mongolian medicinal plants showed anti-oxidative activities and was rich in phenolics and flavonoids. Among these, methanol extract of the Hippophae rhamnoides L. leaf showed a better anti-oxidative effect than the ethanol extract. Artemisia macrocephala Jacq. ex Bess and Paeonia anomala L. seed wallet mentioned the best anti-cancer effects. Gnetin-H, methyl gallate, ethylgallate were the major components in the extract from the Paeonio anomala L. seed wallet. Finally, the molecular structure of gnetin-H was determined by NMR and IR spectroscopy. Further investigation, especially in vivo antioxidant activity, is needed to justify the use of a natural source of antioxidants to prevent the progression of diseases such as cancer.

A new isoflavone glycoside from Abrus cantoniensis.

A new isoflavone glycoside named as 8-O-methylrelusin-7-O-ß-D-apifuranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), together with two known compounds, 8-O-methylrelusin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2) and isobiflorin (3), were isolated from Abrus cantoniensis. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. This is the first report of isoflavone from Abrus cantoniensis. Moreover, all isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721 and MHCC97-H cell lines.[Formula: see text].

Effects of a Particular Heptapeptide on the IFN-α-Sensitive CML Cells.

Using the phage display biopanning technique, we have previously identified a heptapeptide KLWVIPQ which specifically binds to the surface of the IFN-α-sensitive but not the IFN-α-resistant CML cells. The effects of this heptapeptide on the IFN-α-sensitive CML cells were investigated in the present study. IFN-α-sensitive KT-1/A3 and IFN-α-resistant KT-1/A3R CML cells were transfected by pEGFP-KLWVIPQ expression vector and/or induced by IFN-α. WST-1 cell proliferation assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting were performed to determine the effects of this heptapeptide and/or IFN-α on CML cells. The viability of the KT-1/A3 cells was inhibited and apoptosis was induced by either expression of the heptapeptide KLWVIPQ or IFN-α treatment with concurrent upregulation of P53 and downregulation of P210(bcr/abl). However, these effects were not observed in the IFN-α-resistant KT-1/A3R cells. These results suggest that the heptapeptide KLWVIPQ shares a similar mechanism with IFN-α in the regulation of CML cell growth and apoptosis, implying that the heptapeptide KLWVIPQ could be a novel target to go further into mechanisms of IFN-α sensitivity and/or resistance in CML.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel transcript variant of Mtsarg1 gene.

Mtsarg1 (Mus musculus testis and spermatogenesis cell apoptosis-related gene 1) gene with 1103 bp in full length had been cloned previously (GenBank accession number: AF399971, 2002; re-designated as Spata3, Mus musculus spermatogenesis-associated 3, 2007). In the present study, we identified a novel transcript variant of Mtsarg1, named Mtsarg1-beta which is 887 bp in length (GenBank accession numbers: EU259321 and EF546784, 2007, designated as Spata3 variant 4) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cloning and sequencing. Mtsarg1-beta which has high similarity with Mtsarg1 contains an entire open reading frame of 417 bp encoding a protein consisting of 138 amino acids. Mtsarg1-beta protein is a non-secretory protein with a theoretic molecular mass around 14.79 kD and an isoelectric point of 9.74, which shares the 100 N-terminal amino acids with Mtsarg1 followed by 38 amino acids differing from Mtsarg1. Multi-tissue RT-PCR results and Northern blot analysis for adult DBA/2 mice showed that Mtsarg1-beta and Mtsarg1 mRNAs were specifically expressed in testis at high level. RT-PCR results also showed that Mtsarg1-beta and Mtsarg1 mRNAs were not expressed in mouse GC-1 spermatogonia. In situ hybridization revealed that both Mtsarg1 and probably Mtsarg1-beta mRNAs were mainly expressed in mouse spermatocytes. Subcellular localization analysis suggested that Mtsarg1 protein was mainly localized in nucleus while Mtsarg1-beta protein was mainly localized in cytoplasm. All these results indicate that Mtsarg1 and Mtsarg1-beta may play an important role in mouse testicular function and in spermatocyte development.

Molecular cloning and preliminary function study of a novel human gene, TSARG7, related to spermatogenesis.

A novel human gene TSARG7 (GenBank accession No. AY513610) was identified from a human testis cDNA library by using the mTSARG7 gene (GenBank accession No. AY489184) as an electronic probe. The gene whose full cDNA length is 2,463 bp containing 12 exons and 11 introns is located in the human chromosome 8p11.21. The predicted protein encoded by this gene contains 456 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 56,295 dalton and isoelectric point of 9.13. It is a new member of the acyltransferase family since its sequence possesses the highly conserved PlsC domain existing in all acyltransferase-like proteins. Two groups, the TSARG7 and mTSARG7, the TSARG7 and Au041707, share 97% identity in the 456 amino acids. Expression of the TSARG7 gene is restricted to the testis. Subcellular localization studies show that the EGFP-tagged TSARG7 protein was localized in the cytoplasm of GC-1 cells. The TSARG7 mRNA expression was initiated in the testis of a 13-year-old boy, and its level increased steadily along with spermatogenesis and sexual maturation of the human. The results of heat stress experiment demonstrate that TSARG7 expression has a relation with temperature. In conclusion, our study suggests that we have cloned a novel human gene and this gene may play an important role in human spermatogenesis and sexual maturation.

Two novel mutations in SRY gene form Chinese sex reversal XY females.

The SRY gene (sex determining region on Y chromosome) acts as TDF and is required for regulating male sex determination. SRY represents a transcription factor belonging to the superfamily of genes sharing the HMG-box motif (high-mobility group-box), which acts as DNA binding region. Deletion and inactivating mutations of SRY are among the known causes of XY sex reversal. Here, we described the screening of 10 patients who presented with 46,XY sex reversal for mutations in open reading frame (ORF) of SRY gene. DNA was isolated from blood samples using standard techniques. A 609 bp fragment from the central portion of the SRY gene was amplified, using primers XES-2 and XES-7. The amplified PCR fragments were cloned into the pUCm-T vectors, and direct sequencing were carried out on an ABI 377-3 automated DNA sequencer to detect the mutation. PCR-restriction enzyme digestion was applied to detect the results of DNA sequencing. In two patients,de novo mutations led to an amino acid substitution. An A was replaced by a G in codon 38 upstream of the 5' border outside the HMG box of the SRY gene, resulting in the replacement of the amino acid glutamate by glycine. Another heterozygous T to A transition at the nucleotide position +387 which encodes for a Tyrosine (Tyr) instead of a Term, whereas her father was proven to have the wild-type sequence. These point mutations have been confirmed with PCR-restrict enzyme method. As demonstrated by the Human Gene Mutation Database analysis,homology search, and review of the literature, these two mutations were not described previously and brought the total number of SRY gene nucleotide substitutions (missense/nonsense) to 45. These findings indicated that these amino acid substitutions may be responsible for the sex reversal,not only inside the HMG-box but also outside the HMG-box. The two novel mutations in SRY gene provided valuable information for understanding the molecular mechanism of the patient with 46,XY female sex reversal.

Molecular cloning of a novel mouse testis-specific spermatogenic cell apoptosis inhibitor gene mTSARG7 as a candidate oncogene.

A novel mouse gene, mTSARG7 (GenBank accession No. AY489184), with a full cDNA length of 2279 bp and containing 12 exons and 11 introns, was cloned from a mouse expressed sequence tag (GenBank accession No. BE644543) that was significantly up-regulated in cryptorchidism. The gene was located in mouse chromosome 8A1.3 and encoded a protein containing 403 amino acid residues that was a new member of the acyltransferase family because the sequence contained the highly conserved phosphate acyltransferase (PlsC) domain existing in all acyltransferase-like proteins. The mTSARG7 protein and AU041707 protein shared 83.9% identity in 402 amino acid residues. Expression of the mTSARG7 gene was restricted to the mouse testis. The results of the in situ hybridization analysis revealed that the mTSARG7 mRNA was expressed in mouse spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Subcellular localization studies showed that the EGFP-tagged mTSARG7 protein was localized in the cytoplasm of GC-1 spg cells. The mTSARG7 mRNA expression was initiated in the mouse testis in the second week after birth, and the expression level increased steadily with spermatogenesis and sexual maturation of the mouse. The results of the heat stress experiment showed that the mTSARG7 mRNA expression gradually decreased as the heating duration increased. The pcDNA3.1 Hygro(-)/mTSARG7 plasmid was constructed and introduced into GC-1 spg cells by liposome transfection. The mTSARG7 can accelerate GC-1 spg cells, causing them to traverse the S-phase and enter the G2-phase, compared with the control group where this did not occur as there was no transfection of mTSARG7. In conclusion, our results suggest that this gene may play an important role in spermatogenesis and the development of cryptorchid testes, and is a testis-specific apoptosis candidate oncogene.

[Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a novel human testis-specific gene].

Digital Differential Display (DDD) of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is a quantitative method that enables the user to determine the fold differences between the libraries being compaired, using a statistical method to quantitate the transcript levels. In this study, DDD program was performed between nine testis libraries ('tester') and seventy-six libraries derived from other tissues ('driver'). We identified a new contig of expression sequence tags (ESTs) HS. 129794 which were from testis libraries. To validate the use of bioinformatics approaches in gene discovery, the ESTs HS. 129794, which was predicted to be testis -specific, was chosen for further study. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNA from different normal tissues indicated that HS. 129794 was specifically expressed in human testis. By querying EST and Unigene datagases, a full-length cDNA sequence of novel gene in human were identified, it was 2 430 bp in length, located in chromosome 3p21.1. The sequence of the open reading frame was 676 approximately 1 248 bp, as was confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing in human testis. The cDNA encodes a novel protein of 190 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 20 417.8 and isoelectric point of 5.23. The sequence shares no significant homology with any known protein in databases. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of multiple tissues further showed that the novel gene is expressed significantly in different stage of human testis and sperm. We hypothensize that its functions as a testis-specific and spermatogenesis related gene that plays some roles in spermatogenesis, and named it SRG5 (Testis Spermatogenesis Related Gene 5, SRG5) (GeneBank accession number: AY221117). Identification of SRG5 using DDD approaches validates gene discovery using computational approaches.

[Detection of a new mutation (G1253T) of iduronate-2-sulfatase gene for the patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type II].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the mutations of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene in mucopolysaccharidosis type II patients. METHODS: PCR-SSCP analysis was applied to detect the common mutations in the exons 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 in IDS-gene of the patient. DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP were applied to analyze the mutation detected by PCR-SSCP. RESULTS: A new mutation(1253G-->T) of exon 7 of the IDS gene was found by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing in the patient, The PCR-restriction enzyme digestion showed that enzyme digestion location appeared in the patient and his mother, which verified the results of sequencing analysis. CONCLUSION: The mutation of patient with MPSII could be detected effectively and quickly by the applications of PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction enzyme digestion analysis, and the new mutation thus detected is necessary for the prenatal diagnosis of the pedigree.

Identification of a novel gene SRG4 expressed at specific stages of mouse spermatogenesis.

Spermatogenesis is a complex process. Two spermatocytes expression sequence tags (ESTs) BG101130 and BG100990 were found. Their putative amino acid sequences have high homology with rat Spag4 (sperm antigen 4). By electrical hybridization, a novel cDNA encoding polypeptide of 348 amino acid residues was identified from a mouse testis cDNA library. The new gene was designated as SRG4 (Spermatogenesis related gene 4) (GenBank accession No. AY307077). Results of Northern blot and RTPCR revealed that SRG4 expressed specifically in mouse testis. Changes of SRG4 expression in mouse different development stages were observed by RT-PCR. The SRG4 mRNA was hardly detected in 2 weeks postpartum, and expressed abundantly from 3 weeks later, reaching top lever at 4-5 weeks, while slightly down in aging mouse testis. Results of in situ hybridization showed that SRG4 gene expressed abundantly in spermatocytes, round spermatids. This indicated SRG4 gene may play an important role in mouse meiotic divisions of spermatocytes.

[Identification of the resource suspected sperm by DNA fingerprinting].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the resource suspected sperm of donor in human sperm bank and apply the parentage testing between the donor and his offspring. METHODS: We took the 6 semen specimen of the donor involved and correspondently suspected semen as well as the semen of one volunteer and peripheral blood of his offspring. All specimens were amplified by PCR, and DNA fingerprint was detected by PAGE electrophoresis. RESULTS: By DNA fingerprinting we discovered that the 5 suspected sperm samples came from corresponding donors and the other sample from another. The volunteer and his offspring were identified as consanguinity. CONCLUSION: We can identify the difference between sperm of donors and the suspected sperm of donors, and sperm of donors and the peripheral blood of their offspring exactly by DNA fingerprinting.

[Molecular cloning and expression in cryptorchid testis of SRG2 from a mouse testis spermatocyte apoptosis-related gene].

It was observed that the spermatogenic cells apoptosis dramatically increased in infertile man. Cloning of novel spermatogenic cell-specific gene related to apoptosis is of momentous physiological and pathological significance to illustrate the apoptosis mechanism and the biology process of spermatogenic cells. A novel mouse gene full-length cDNA sequence-SRG2 was identified (GenBank accession number AF395083), which was significantly changed in cryptorchidism, from a mouse testis cDNA library using a cDNA fragment (GenBank accession number BE644542) as an electronic probe. SRG2 was 1,088 bp in length. The putative protein encoded by this gene was 295 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 33,579 kDa and isoelectric point of 9.64. The sequence shared no significant homology with any known protein in databases except TSARG2, with which its homology was 78%. RT-PCR showed that SRG2 was expressed significantly in testis. Using molecular beacon probe to examine the mRNA expression level of SRG2 gene in cryptorchid testis of various stages, we found that the gene was up-regulated distinctly. Therefore, we conclude that this gene plays an important role in cryptorchid testis.

[Molecular cloning of mTSARG3 gene related to apoptosis in mouse spermatogenic cells].

Beginning from a mouse EST (GenBank Accession No: BE644537) which was significantly changed in cryptorchidism and represented a novel gene, GeneScan program was performed and a predicted mouse novel gene full-length cDNA sequence containing the BE644537 sequence was attained. Gene-specific primers were designed for PCR in mouse testis cDNA library. The sequencing result of the PCR product showed that we obtain a new gene mTSARG3 (GenBank Accession No: AF419292) whose full cDNA length is 1328 bp containing 8 exons and 7 introns. The predicted open reading frame encodes a protein of 316 amino acid residues. The protein encoded by the new gene is a new member of HSP40 protein family because the sequence contains the highly conserved J domain which is present in all DnaJ-like proteins and is considered to have a critical role in DnaJ-DnaK protein-protein interactions. mTSARG3 protein displays a 46% identity in a 336-amino-acid overlap with DJB4-MOUSE protein. The result of RT-PCR analysis and Northern blot showed that mTSARG3 is specifically expressed in mouse testis. Southern blot showed that there were no loss and rearrangement in cryptorchid. Based upon all these observations, it is considered that the function of the new gene is related to inhibit mouse testis spermatogenesis apoptosis.

[46,XY female sex reversal patient with a novel point mutation in the coding sequence of the SRY gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism of a Chinese patient with 46, XY sex reversal. METHODS: DNA fragments of the SRY gene from the typical XY female sex reversal patient and her father were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified PCR fragments were cloned into the pUCm-T vector, and direct sequencing was carried out on an ABI 377-3 automated DNA sequencer to detect the mutation. PCR-restriction enzyme digestion was applied to detect the results of DNA sequencing. RESULTS: A novel mutation of the SRY gene was identified in the XY sex reversal patient of this study. A T is replaced by an A in codon 129 at position +387, resulting in the replacement of the polar amino acid tyrosine (TAT) by the stop code (TAA) in the HMG-box, whereas her father was proved to have the wild-type sequence. Because the mutation introduced an enzyme site of MaeIII, the PCR-restrict enzyme digestion showed that there were three bands (131 bp,231 bp and 247 bp) in the patient, whereas two bands (131 bp and 478 bp) in normal man. It verified the results of sequencing analysis. The results after searching the Human Gene Mutation Database showed that this mutation was not described before and should be a new mutation. CONCLUSION: The novel mutation in SRY gene has provided valuable information for the understanding of molecular mechanism of the patient with 46,XY female sex reversal.

[Molecular cloning for testis spermatogenesis cell apoptosis related gene TSARG1 and Mtsarg1 and expression analysis for Mtsarg1 gene].

Spermatogenesis cell apoptosis is a very complex process, which needs many molecules to take part in the programmable death of cells in testis. At present, research of apoptosis for spermatogenesis cell is at the primary step. It is very important to clone spermatogenesis cell apoptosis related genes and spermatogenesis genes in testis. Applying the bioinformatics and experiment technique, we have cloned human and mouse novel gene cDNA sequences--human testis and spermatogenesis cell apoptosis related gene 1 (TSARG1) and mouse testis and spermatogenesis cell apoptosis related gene 1(Mtsarg1) from human and mouse testis cDNA library respectively, using a cDNA fragment (GenBank accession number: BE644538) as an electronic probe, which was significantly changed in expression in cryptorchidism. The GeneBank accession numbers of Mtsarg1 and TSARG1 are AF399971 and AY032925 (NM_139073), respectively. The Mtsarg1 has a 55% identity and 61% similarity with TSARG1 at the amino acid level, which did not share significant homology with any other known protein in databases. The full-length cDNA of TSARG1 gene is 973 bp, including 549 bp open reading frame(ORF) and coding 183 amino acids, whereas the full-length cDNA of Mtsarg1 gene is 1103 bp, including 576 bp ORF and coding 192 amino acids. The predicted molecule weight of TSARG1 is 19948.61 Dolton, and the deduced iso-electric point is 10.24, whereas the Mtsarg1 is 20875.93 and is 9.83, being alkaline proteins. RT-PCR analysis showed that Mtsarg1 was expressed significantly in testis and faintly in epididymis in the ten tissues of testis, ovary, spleen, kidney, lung, heart, brain, epididymis, liver and skeletal muscle in mouse, while it wasn't expressed in the other eight tissues. Therefore, our results suggested that Mtsarg1 and TSARG1 would be pay potential roles in spermatogenesis cell apoptosis or spermatogenesis.

Expression research for human DDX36 and mouse Ddx36 gene in the adult testis.

Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most intensively studied organisms in biology and serves as a model system for structural and functional genomic research. With the strategy of homologue molecular cloning using the sequence of the maleless gene (mle) of Drosophila, the novel homologous human and mouse genes with longer DNA/RNA helicase box (DEAD/DEAH box), named, DDX36 and Ddx36 genes, respectively, were cloned as new members of the DEAD/H box superfamily. In order to further investigate the relationship between those two genes of DDX36 and Ddx36 and the role of spermatogenesis, the expression analysis of them have been performed by the techniques of Northern blotting, RT-PCR and tissue in situ hybridization. The result indicated that the DDX36 and Ddx36 gene has highly expressed in the adult testis. It was primarily suggested that DDX36 and Ddx36 gene may be related with spermatogenesis.

[Diagnosing achondroplasia by single cell nested-PCR].

OBJECTIVE: To research on the reliability of diagnosing achondroplasia (ACH) on single cell level and to provide a basis for preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD). METHODS: The high-frequency mutation region G380R of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3(FGFR3) gene was amplified by nested-PCR with single lymphocyte and single blastomere. The products of PCR were digested by restriction enzyme Bfm I, then the digested products were detected by 10% polyacrylamida gel electrophoresis(PAGE). RESULTS: The amplification success rate, allele dropout rate and correct diagnosis rate of single lymphocyte's PCR were 90.4%, 8.2% and 91.8%,respectively. The amplification success rate of single blastomere was 75.4%. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of ACH by single cell nested-PCR is comparatively stable and reliable.

[Cloning of cDNA of TSARG4, a human spermatogenesis related gene].

To understand molecular mechanism of spermatogenesis, two ESTs BG720564 and AI700454, were found from SPAG4 (sperm antigen 4), a gene related to dense fiber protein of outer membrane of the human sperm and mouse spermatocytes gene AK006225. The gap was filled by polymerase chain reaction, and a 1252 bp fragment was obtained. This 1252 bp fragment was named TSARG4 (testis and spermatogenesis related gene 4 (GenBank accession number AF401350). Its opening reading frame was 94-1233 bp, as was proved by RT-PCR in human testis. TSARG4 gene was located in 20q11.2, and the putative protein was 379 amino acid with a theoretical molecular weight of 43 081 and isoelectric point of 8.61. The homologies of amino acid sequences were 74% between TSARG4 and AK006225 gene and 45% between TSARG4 and SPAG4 gene, respectively. The human TSARG4 mRNA is expressed in a wide range of adult tissues, including testis, whereas the homologous mouse spermatocytes gene AK006225 is expressed specifically in the testis.

[Molecular cloning of SRG2, a mouse testis spermatocyte apoptosis-related gene].

A novel mouse gene full-length cDNA sequence-SRG2 were identified (GenBank accession number AF395083), which was significantly changed in cryptorchidism, from a mouse testis cDNA library using a cDNA fragment (GenBank accession number BE644542) as an electronic probe. SRG2 was 1058 bp in length. The putative protein encoded by this gene was 295 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 33 579 and isoelectric point of 9.64. The sequence shared no significant homology with any known protein in databases except TSARG2, with which its homology was 78%. RT-PCR showed that SRG2 was expressed significantly in testis.