In all mammalian species, progesterone is essential in the preparation for and maintenance of pregnancy, if it occurs. Progesterone primes the endometrium for possible implantation and inhibits uterine contraction until birth. 20-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD; EC.1.1.1.149) enzyme belongs to the family of aldo-keto reductases. 20α-HSD predominantly converts progesterone into its biologically inactive form 20α-hydroxyprogesterone (20α-OHP), and plays a crucial role in the termination of pregnancy and initiation of parturition. In addition, the activity of 20α-HSD during the luteal phase known to be inhibited by prolactin. In this study, we focused on the analysis of transgenic mice expressing EGFP under control of monkey 20α-HSD promotor in mice testis. The protein expression and localization were detected by Western blotting and Immunohistochemical analysis, respectively. 20α-HSD protein was detected at molecular weight of 37-kDa by Western blotting analysis and EGFP was found at 27-kDa in the testis of TG mice. Also EGFP and 20a-HSD protein expression on 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after birth were assessed. Both of them were increased the expression level time-dependently. 20α-HSD were strongly expressed in seminiferous tubule from 1 week after birth as seen in Immunohistochemical analysis. However, EGFP was strongly expressed in the seminiferous epithelial cells. Then, we determined the expression of EGFP mRNA in mice testis. Using primers specific for mouse EGFP, mRNA expression levels were analyzed by RT-PCR. The EGFP molecular weights is 400bp, qRT-PCR results using EGFP primer, The Cq value of the ratio decreased as the age increased. On this basis, mRNA were increased the expression level time-dependently. In conclusion, these observations suggest that the 20α-HSD in testis could be play a pivotal role in the spermatogenesis.

The glycoprotein hormone family consists of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; GTH1), luteinizing hormone (LH; GTH2), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which are secreted by the pituitary gland in all mammalian species, and chorionic gonadotropin, which is secreted by placental trophoblast cells in primates and equids. These hormones consist of non-covalently associated α-, β- subunits. Within a species, the amino acid sequence of α-subunit is identical across all glycoprotein hormones and is encoded by a single gene. The αβ dimer is the active form of the hormone, and biological specificity is conferred by the β-subunit. Both of α and β subunit of eel FSH has two N-glycosylation sites (α-subunit: Asn56 and Asn79; β -subunit: Asn5 and Asn22, respectively). In the present study, we constructed deglycosylated mutants at single and double sites in each subunits of eel FSH for identification of Asn linked oligosaccharides' biological role. Mutant cDANs were cloned into pcDNA3 expression vector and transiently transfected into CHO suspension cells. The quantity of rec-eelFSHs were quantified by sandwich ELISA system, using monoclonal antibodies produced in our lab. The wild type rec-FSH protein was detected at the predicted molecular weight of 34 kDa by western blot. The molecular weight of deglycosylated mutants at single site decreased with about 4 kDa and of mutants at double sites decreased with 8 kDa. After PNGase treatment in the rec-eel FSH proteins, molecular weight also decreased to 7-8 kDa. We generated stably parental cell lines, engineered to express a β-arrestin 2EA fusion protein, expressing eel FSHR and C-terminal deleted mutant. 2 out of 5 receptor cells each were selected by G-418 and we tested these cell lines in a receptor functionality using PathHunter β arrestin assay (DiscoverX). Follicle stimulating hormone acts through binding to its specific receptor. Binding of ligand to the receptor activates the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) pathway (McFarland et al., 1989; Ji and Ji, 1991a; Rose, 1998) and the inositol 1phosphate (IP1) the second messenger systems. After stimulation of eelFSH receptor stably transfected Parental CHO cells with FSH wild type and mutant hormones as a ligand, production of cAMP and IP-1 were evaluated (Cisbio). cAMP IC-50 values by eelFSHwt; αΔ56; αΔ79; αΔ56_79; and βΔ5 were 33.1; 1154.7; 22; 410 and 311.9 ng/ml, respectively. IP-1 IC-50 values by eelFSHwt; αΔ56; αΔ79; αΔ56_79 and βΔ5 were 6.8; 7.1; 4.4; 3.8 and 10.2 ng/ml, respectively too. The cAMP activation was greatly decreased in the αΔ56αmutant. Thus, the site of α56 oligosaccharide in the eel plays an pivotal role for the cAMP stimulation using eel FSH receptor cell lines. In the IP-one assay, the activity in the αΔ56 and βΔ5 mutants was a little decreased than the wt. The biological roles of N-linked oligosaccharides in GPCR internalization are going to be estimated by measuring β arrestin recruitment system.

The glycoprotein hormone family consists of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and thyroid stimulating hormone, which are secreted by the pituitary gland in all mammalian species, and choriogonadotropin (CG), which is secreted by the placenta in primates and equids. The hormones are composed of a common α subunit and a hormone specific β subunit which are non-covalently associated. Recent advances in biotechnology, particularly in the production of recombinant proteins, have provided opportunities to produce sufficient quantities of recombinant fish GTHs using various expression hosts. Japanese eel Anguilla japonica is one of the most important fish species being aquacultured in Japan but is hampered from the fact that this species does not reproduce in captivity. Artificial induction of gonadal maturation has been successful by administration of pituitary extracts or human chorionic gonadotropin, but the understanding the regulatory mechanism of gonadal development moderated by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) remains elusive due to lack of suitable amounts of eel gonadotropins (GTHs). In the present study, we produced tethered rec-eel LH and deglycosylated mutants (56, 79 and 56-79 of α subunit; 10 of β-subunit) of Asn-linked oligosaccharides in CHO suspension cells. Luteinizing hormone acts through binding to its specific receptor. Binding of ligand to the receptor activates the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) pathway (McFarland et al., 1989; Ji and Ji, 1991a; Rose, 1998) and the inositol 1 phosphate (IP1) secondary messenger systems. After stimulation of eelLH/CG receptor transfected CHO cells with rec-LH wild type (wt) and mutant hormones as a ligand, production of cAMP and IP-1 were evaluated (Cisbio). cAMP IC-50 values by rec-eelLH wt; αΔ56; αΔ79; αΔ56_79 and βΔ10 were 606.2; 374.9; 100.3; 14.2 and 210.9 ng/ml, respectively. IP-1 IC-50 values by rec-eelLH wt; αΔ56; αΔ79; αΔ56.79 and βΔ10 were 28.3; 16.04; 4.3; 2.1 and 3.6ng/ml, respectively too. As seen in both of the second messenger production, general stimulatory pattern is analogous. cAMP and IP-1 stimulation by wild type and αΔ56, as well as αΔ79 and βΔ10 were approximate, but the stimulating effect of double mutant (αΔ56_ 79) was drastically higher. According to the data, deglycosylated eelLH may bind to the receptor with high affinity and cAMP production is gradually increased. Furthermore, receptor activation by tethered rec-eel mutant ligands (FreeStyle CHO-MAX Expression System) will be evaluated with β arrestin recruitment and GPCR internalization for N-linked oligosaccharides’ biological role in activation of eelLH/CGR.