Abstract
The c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated by ionizing radiation and certain other DNA-damaging agents. The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) and the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene product, effectors in the DNA damage response, contribute to the induction of c-Abl activity. The present study demonstrates that c-Abl is expressed in mouse and rat testes, and predominantly in pachytene spermatocytes of meiosis I. The results also demonstrate that c-Abl interacts directly with meiotic chromosomes. In concert with a requirement for c-Abl at the pachytene stage, we show that, in contrast to wild-type mice, testes from Abl-/- mice exhibit defects in spermatogenesis. These findings provide the first demonstration that c-Abl plays a functional role in meiosis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Chromosomes / physiology
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Immunoblotting
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Immunohistochemistry
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Male
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Meiosis / genetics
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Meiosis / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Protein Kinases / metabolism
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / physiology*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / biosynthesis
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / physiology*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Spermatocytes / metabolism
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Spermatocytes / physiology
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Spermatocytes / ultrastructure
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Spermatogenesis / genetics
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Spermatogenesis / physiology
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Staining and Labeling
Substances
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Protein Kinases
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl