Disease relevance of DAZAP1

• Deleted in Azoospermia Associated Protein 1 (DAZAP1) is a ubiquitous RNA-binding protein highly expressed in the human and the mouse testes [1].
• Characterization of the mouse Dazap1 gene encoding an RNA-binding protein that interacts with infertility factors DAZ and DAZL [2].
• BACKGROUND: DAZAP1 (DAZ Associated Protein 1) was originally identified by a yeast two-hybrid system through its interaction with a putative male infertility factor, DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia) [2].

High impact information on DAZAP1

• Our results suggest that DAZAP1 plays a key role in mRNA transport during spermatogenesis [1].
• In the presence of an RNA polymerase II inhibitor, DAZAP1 is retained in the cytoplasm [1].
• To test the hypothesis that DAZAP1 shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, we studied the nuclear transport of DAZAP1 in somatic cells using immunostaining, heterokaryon formation, and mutagenesis [1].
• We also show that DAZAP1/MEF2D is a sequence-specific RNA-binding protein [3].
• DAZAP1 is a novel RNA binding protein expressed most abundantly in the testis [3].

Biological context of DAZAP1

• In mammalian species, DAZAP1 may be involved in diverse reproductive functions, ranging from cell cycle regulation and maturation of oocytes to differentiation of luteal cells [4].
• The DAZAP genes were mapped to chromosomal regions 19p13.3 and 2q33-q34, respectively, where no genetic diseases affecting spermatogenesis are known to map [5].
• The mutation of Thr(269) and Thr(315) to aspartate or the phosphorylation of these residues caused DAZAP1 to dissociate from its binding partner DAZ [6].

Anatomical context of DAZAP1

• RESULT(S): DAZAP1 is expressed in rat and human luteal cells [4].
• Although a majority of DAZAP1 is present in the cytoplasmic fraction, they are not associated with polyribosomes [2].
• In addition, exogenous expression of MEF2D-DAZAP1 and DAZAP1-MEF2D promoted the growth of HeLa cells [7].
• High expression of DAZAP1 was first detected in midpachytene spermatocytes in stage VII tubules [8].
• The DAZAP1 protein was more abundant in germ cells of later stages of development and showed a dynamic subcellular distribution [8].

Associations of DAZAP1 with chemical compounds

• A protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages, which became phosphorylated in response to LPS (lipopolysaccharide), was identified as the RNA-binding protein called DAZAP1 [DAZ (deleted in azoospermia)-associated protein 1] [6].

Physical interactions of DAZAP1

• DAZAP1 contains two RNA-binding domains (RBDs) and a proline-rich C-terminal portion, and is expressed most abundantly in the testis [2].

Other interactions of DAZAP1

• DAZAP1 encodes a novel RNA-binding protein that is expressed most abundantly in the testis, and DAZAP2 encodes a ubiquitously expressed protein with no recognizable functional motif [5].
• CONCLUSION(S): The expression patterns of DAZAP1 and DAZL are identical within rat and human ovaries [4].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of DAZAP1

• Western blot detects a single 45 kD DAZAP1 protein that is most abundant in the testis [2].
• Co-immunoprecipitation experiments show in vivo interaction of DAZ-like (DAZL) protein with DAZAP1 in the ovarian tissues [4].
• We used RNA in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry to study the expression of Dazap1 in mouse testes [8].

References