Spermatogenesis Associated Protein, Serine Rich 2 (SPATS2)

Spats2 has a basic amino acid-rich region, is rich in serine residues, and contains 4 predicted N-glycosylation sites. Northern blot analysis of mouse tissues detected strong expression in adult testis, moderate expression in brain and thymus, and weak expression in ovary, kidney, lung, heart, stomach, skeletal muscle. In situ hybridization of adult mouse testis tissue demonstrated Spats2 expression that varied with the seminiferous cycle during spermatogenesis, with cytoplasmic expression in spermatocytes, round spermatids, and elongated spermatids. No expression was detected in spermatogonia. In developing mouse testis, Spats2 was detected at 1 week, increased rapidly to reach a maximum level at 6 weeks, which coincides with testicular maturation, and remained constant at a high level throughout adulthood.