Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
11
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-5-12
pubmed:abstractText
Protein 4.1G is a member of the protein 4.1 family, which in general serves as adaptors linking transmembrane proteins to the cytoskeleton. 4.1G is thought to be widely expressed in many cells and tissues, but its function remains largely unknown. To explore the function of 4.1G in vivo, we generated 4.1G(-/-) mice and bred the mice in two backgrounds: C57BL/6 (B6) and 129/Sv (129) hybrids (B6-129) and inbred B6. Although the B6 4.1G(-/-) mice showed no obvious abnormalities, deficiency of 4.1G in B6-129 hybrids was associated with male infertility. Histological examinations of these 4.1G(-/-) mice revealed atrophy, impaired cell-cell contact and sloughing off of spermatogenic cells in seminiferous epithelium, and lack of mature spermatids in the epididymis. Ultrastructural examination revealed enlarged intercellular spaces between spermatogenic and Sertoli cells as well as the spermatid deformities. At the molecular level, 4.1G is associated with the nectin-like 4 (NECL4) adhesion molecule. Importantly, the expression of NECL4 was decreased, and the localization of NECL4 was altered in 4.1G(-/-) testis. Thus, our findings imply that 4.1G plays a role in spermatogenesis by mediating cell-cell adhesion between spermatogenic and Sertoli cells through its interaction with NECL4 on Sertoli cells. Additionally, the finding that infertility is present in B6-129 but not on the B6 background suggests the presence of a major modifier gene(s) that influences 4.1G function and is associated with male infertility.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
1098-5549
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2276-86
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Cell Adhesion, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Cell Adhesion Molecules, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Gene Expression, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Germ Cells, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Immunoblotting, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Immunoglobulins, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Infertility, Male, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Male, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Mice, 129 Strain, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Mice, Inbred C57BL, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Mice, Knockout, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Microfilament Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Polymerase Chain Reaction, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Protein Isoforms, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Sertoli Cells, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Spermatogenesis, pubmed-meshheading:21482674-Testis
pubmed:year
2011
pubmed:articleTitle
Lack of protein 4.1G causes altered expression and localization of the cell adhesion molecule nectin-like 4 in testis and can cause male infertility.
pubmed:affiliation
Red Cell Physiology Laboratory, New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural