Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.346, No.4, 1261-1266, 2006
Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 is localized to the XY body of meiotic prophase spermatocytes
We found that phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (phospho-ERK1/2) is localized to the XY body of meiotic prophase spermatocytes. A more detailed surface spread analysis showed that phospho-ERK1/2 is localized to the synaptonemal complex of the XY pair of pachytene spermatocytes or the entire XY body of zygotene spermatocytes. In the XY body of meiotic prophase spermatocytes, both transcription and homologous recombination are inactivated. These results suggest a novel function of ERK1/2 in meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords:extracellular signal-regulated kinase;ERK1/2;spermatocytes;spermatogenesis;surface spread analysis;synaptonemal complex;XY body;meiotic prophase;seminiferous tubules;testis