Abstract
Tudor domain containing (Tdrd) proteins that are expressed in germ cells are divided into two groups. One group, consisting of TDRD1, TDRKH, TDRD9 and TDRD12, function in piRNA biogenesis and retrotransposon silencing, while the other group including RNF17/TDRD4 and TDRD5-7 are required for spermiogenesis. These Tdrd proteins play distinct roles during male germ cell development. Here, we report the characterization of STK31/TDRD8 in mice. STK31 contains a tudor domain and a serine/threonine kinase domain. We find that STK31 is a cytoplasmic protein in germ cells. STK31 is expressed in embryonic gonocytes of both sexes and postnatal spermatocytes and round spermatids in males. Disruption of the tudor domain and kinase domain of STK31 respectively does not affect fertility in mice. Our data suggest that the function of STK31 may be redundant with other Tdrd proteins in germ cell development.
Highlights
The tudor domain was originally identified as a conserved structural motif of approximately 60 amino acids in Drosophila Tudor protein, which is required for assembly of polar granules in germ plasm [1,2,3]
TDRD1 interacts with MILI and participates in the primary piRNA biogenesis in intermitochondrial cements [10,11], while TDRD9 interacts with MIWI2 to function in secondary piRNA biogenesis in processing bodies [12]
Previous genetic studies have shown that Tudor domain containing (Tdrd) proteins play distinct roles in piRNA biogenesis and spermiogenesis
Summary
The tudor domain was originally identified as a conserved structural motif of approximately 60 amino acids in Drosophila Tudor protein, which is required for assembly of polar granules in germ plasm [1,2,3]. The tudor proteins play important roles in many processes during development, such as genome stability, cell division and gametogenesis. They are involved in many processes of RNA metabolism, including RNA splicing, miRNA/siRNA pathway, and piRNA pathway [6]. There are three members of Piwi proteins, MILI (PIWIL2), MIWI (PIWIL1) and MIWI2 (PIWIL4). These Piwi proteins harbor multiple methylated arginine sites at conserved positions in N termini [9]. Tudor domain containing (Tdrd) proteins recognize the methylated arginines and bind Piwi proteins to function in piRNA biogenesis and spermiogenesis. Tdrd proteins are critical for male germ cell development
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