Tdrd family members contain Tudor domain repeat which is found in polar granules in Drophila. Tdrd12 is one of Tdrd family members. Tdrd12 contains a DEAD-box and a Tudor domain. However, the molecular mechanism and physiological function of Tdrd12 has not been described. To examine the expression pattern of Tdrd12, RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis were performed using total RNAs extracted from tissues; liver, intestine, heart, brain, kidney, lung, brain, uterus, ovary, and testis. The full-length of Tdrd12 was amplified from total RNA from mouse testis and cloning into the cloning vector. Cloned PCR products were purified,sequenced and analyzed using the ABI Prism Sequencer 3130XL. To look into Tdrd12 protein location, rabbit antibodies against mouse Tdrd12 were made using two epitopes: 1st epitope: (318~334)- SQRPNEKPLRLTEKKDC and 2nd epitope: (737~750)- LEAKEDKKARRPLC, and its specificity was tested using tissue extracts including the gonad. Here, we identified that Tdrd12 mRNA is detected in the ovary and testis, but not in other tissues. The size of its transcript is about 4.5kb on the northern blot. Antibody against Tdrd12 detects about 150 kDa protein on the western blot analysis. Immunostaining assay shows that Tdrd12 is localized at the spermatid in the seminiferous tubules. The current study is the first to investigate Tdrd12 expression is limited in the gonad. Thissuggest that Tdrd12 plays a role in the gonad like other known Tdrd family members, Tdrd1, Tdrd6, Tdrd7, and Tdrd9.

To produce abiotic stress resistant transgenic cucumber, the cotyledonary node explants of cucumber (c.v. Eunsung) were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 containing the binary vector (pPZP211) carrying Nit gene. The 491 explants inoculated with bacterium solution for 30 min were maintained on 50 mg/L paromomycin contained shoot induction (SI) medium for first 2 weeks and then subcultured on 100 mg/L paromomycin to obtain transgenic adventitious shoots for 4 x 14 days. So far, 5 plant were selected, and then acclimated in soil. Of them, 3 transgenic plants with Nit gene were confirmed by Southern blot analysis.