NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a member of the trypsin family of serine proteases. This protein is a secreted enzyme that is proposed to regulate the availability of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) by cleaving IGF-binding proteins. It has also been suggested to be a regulator of cell growth. Variations in the promoter region of this gene are the cause of susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration type 7.
General function
Enzyme
Comment
Cellular localization
Secreted
Comment
Ovarian function
Comment
Identification of Sheep Ovary Genes Potentially Associated with Off-season Reproduction. Chen L et al. Off-season reproduction is a favorable economic trait for sheep industry. Hu sheep, an indigenous Chinese sheep breed, demonstrates a higher productivity of lambs and displays year-around oestrous behavior under proper nutrition and environment. The genetic basis behind these traits, however, is not well understood. In order to identify genes associated with the off-season reproduction, we constructed a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library using pooled ovary mRNAs of 6 oestrous Hu females as a tester and the pooled ovary mRNAs of 6 non-oestrous Chinese Merino females as a driver. A total of 382 resulting positive clones were obtained after the SSH. We identified 114 differentially up-regulated genes in oestrous Hu sheep by using subsequent screening and DNA sequencing, of which 8 were previously known, 93 were reported for the first time in sheep, and 13 were novel with no significant homology to any sequence in the DNA databases. Functions of the genes identified are related to cell division, signal transduction, structure, metabolism, or cell defense. To validate the results of SSH, 6 genes (Ntrk2, Ppap2b, Htra1, Nid1, Serpine2 and Foxola) were selected for conformational analysis using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and two of them (Htral and Foxo1a) were verified by Northern blot. All of the 6 genes were differentially up-regulated in the ovary of oestrous Hu. It is obvious that off-season reproduction is a complex trait involving multiple genes in multiple organs. This study helps to provide a foundation for the final identification of functional genes involved in the sheep ovary.
Expression regulated by
LH
Comment
Ovarian localization
Granulosa, Luteal cells
Comment
Expression and localization of the serine proteases HtrA1, PRSS23, and PRSS35 in the mouse ovary. Wahlberg P et al. Proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix components has been suggested to play an essential role for the occurrence of ovulation. Recent studies in our laboratory have indicated that the plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase systems, which were previously believed to be crucial for ovulation, are not required in this process. In this study, we have used a microarray approach to identify new proteases that are involved in ovulation. We found three serine proteases that were relatively highly expressed during ovulation: HtrA1, which was not regulated much during ovulation; PRSS23, which was downregulated by gonadotropins; and PRSS35, which was upregulated by gonadotropins. We have further investigated the expression patterns of these proteases during gonadotropin-induced ovulation in immature mice and in the corpus luteum (CL) of pseudopregnant mice. We found that HtrA1 was highly expressed in granulosa cells throughout follicular development and ovulation as well as in the forming and regressing CL. PRSS23 was highly expressed in atretic follicles and it was expressed in the ovarian stroma and theca tissues just prior to ovulation. PRSS35 was expressed in the theca layers of developing follicles. It was also highly induced in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. PRSS35 was also expressed in the forming and regressing CL. These data suggest that HtrA1 and PRSS35 may be involved in ovulation and CL formation and regression, and that PRSS23 may play a role in follicular atresia.
Follicle stages
Preovulatory, Corpus luteum
Comment
Identification and Regulation of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Antagonists Associated with Preantral Follicle Development in the Ovary. Fenwick MA et al. The TGF?superfamily comprises several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) capable of exerting gonadotropin-independent effects on the development of small preantral follicles. In embryonic tissues, BMP concentration gradients, partly formed by antagonistic factors, are essential for establishing phenotypic fate. By examining the expression of candidate genes whose protein products are known to interact with BMP ligands, we set out to determine which antagonists would most likely contribute toward regulation of paracrine signaling during early follicle development. Juvenile mouse ovaries of 4, 8, 12, and 21 d of age enriched with follicles at successive developmental stages were used to assess changes in candidate gene transcripts by quantitative RT-PCR. Although some antagonists were found to be positively associated with the emergence of developing follicles (Nog, Htra1, Fst, Bmper, Vwc2), two (Sostdc1, Chrd) showed a corresponding reduction in expression. At each age, twisted gastrulation homolog 1 (Twsg1), Htra1, Nbl1, and Fst were consistently highly expressed and localization of these genes by in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry further highlighted a clear pattern of expression in granulosa cells of developing follicles. Moreover, with the exception of Nbl1, levels of these antagonists did not change in preantral follicles exposed to FSH in vitro, suggesting regulation by local factors. The presence of multiple antagonists in the juvenile ovary and their high level of expression in follicles imply the actions of certain growth factors are subject to local modulation and further highlights another important level of intraovarian regulation of follicle development.