Disease relevance of Actl7b

• To characterize the haploid germ cell-specific gene structure, a mouse genomic library was screened with a Tact1 cDNA as a probe, and four independent phage clones containing the Tact1 gene were isolated [1].

High impact information on Actl7b

• The mRNA sizes and deduced molecular masses of t-actin 1/mACTl7b and t-actin 2/mACTl7a were 2.2 kilobases (kb) and 1.8 kb, and Mr 43.1 x 10(3) and Mr 47.2 x 10(3), respectively [2].
• We isolated cDNA clones for the novel actin-like proteins T-ACTIN 1 and T-ACTIN 2, which are expressed specifically in the mouse testis [2].
• Although the cellular locations of these two proteins are quite different (T-ACTIN-1 was found in the cytoplasm and T-ACTIN-2 was located in the nucleus), the expression of their proteins and mRNAs is controlled during development and limited during spermiogenesis [2].
• Transient promoter analyses indicate that CREMtau may activate Tact1 and Tact2 expression in germ cells [1].
• Genomic structure and promoter activity of the testis haploid germ cell-specific intronless genes, Tact1 and Tact2 [1].

Biological context of Actl7b

• Novel actin-like proteins T-ACTIN 1 and T-ACTIN 2 are differentially expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of mouse haploid germ cells [2].
• Trans fection experiments with in vitro-methylated constructs indicated that methylation of the ORF but not 5' upstream repressed Tact1/Actl7b promoter activity in somatic cells [3].
• The Tact1 and Tact2 genes are unusual retroposons in that they have retained an open reading frame and are expressed in testicular germ cells, because almost all retroposons become pseudogenes [1].
• Human Tact orthologues also lack introns and are located within 6.4 kb in a head-to-head orientation [1].
• The promoter region contains no TATA-, CCAAT- or GC-boxes, although there are potential cAMP response element (CRE)-like motifs in the 5'-upstream region and the 5'-untranslated region in Tact1 and Tact2, respectively [1].

Anatomical context of Actl7b

• Rabbits were immunized with murine CBA T lymphocytes activated with C57BL/6 antigens (Tact) [4].

Associations of Actl7b with chemical compounds

• To gain insight into this issue, we investigated the distribution and methylation status of CpG dinucleotides in the mouse Tact1/Actl7b gene, which is intronless and expressed exclusively in testicular germ cells [3].

References