Cloning and Characterization of tesk1, a Novel Spermatogenesis-Related Gene, in the Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107922
• Publication Date: 2014-10-01T17:51:22Z
• Authors: Liang Meng; Ying Zhu; Ning Zhang; Wanjun Liu; Yang Liu; Changwei Shao; Na Wang; Songlin Chen
• Keywords: Male; 0303 health sciences; DNA, Complementary; Science; Q; Molecular Sequence Data; R; Fishes; Gene Expression; Chromosomes; Protein Transport; 03 medical and health sciences; Phenotype; Organ Specificity; Medicine; Animals; Female; RNA, Messenger; Cloning, Molecular; Gonads; Spermatogenesis; Phylogeny; Research Article

Testis-specific protein kinase 1 (Tesk1) is a serine/threonine with unique structural features. In the present study, we cloned and characterized tesk1 gene of tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis. The full-length cDNA consists 1,672 nucleotides, encoding 331 amino acid polypeptide characteristic structure composed an N-terminal domain C-terminal proline-rich domain. genomic sequence contains eight exons seven introns. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that mRNA expressed predominantly in testis, though level expression varied throughout development. We used situ hybridization to show spermatids males pseudo-males, but not triploid males. Our results suggest sole Tesk1 may play role spermatogenesis.