PARENT SESSION
MINISYMPOSIUM I. GENOMICS AND PROTEOMICS OF THE TESTIS AND OVARY

Monday, August 2, 2004
9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Buchanan A106
Chair: Andrea S. Cupp (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE)

(MS1) THE TESTICULAR PROTEOME PROJECT: FOCUS ON NOVEL GERM CELL BIOMARKERS.

Pineau, Charles¹, Vallet-Erdtmann, V¹, Aubry, F¹, Guitton, N¹, Rolland, A¹, Evrard, B¹, Kervarrec, C¹, Guerrois, M¹, Com, E¹, Jegou, B¹, ¹ GERHM - Inserm U.625, Rennes, France

ABSTRACT- Spermatogenesis is a complex process implying different phenomenon that include proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying such phenomenon in the testis and particularly in the germ cell lineage remain poorly known. Our research program aims at deciphering the entire testicular proteome with the objectives to conduct an exhaustive and systematic analysis of testicular interactions at the molecular level. A priority was given to germ cells and in particular to spermatogonia. As a key cell in spermatogenesis, the latter probably contains an entire arsenal of proteins common to other pluripotent stem cells in the body. However, it is also likely to contain specific proteins, responsible for conferring on this cell its functional identity as the stem cell involved in spermatogenesis. We have developed four complementary approaches aiming at identifying potent germ cell biomarkers: 1) a systematic deciphering of the proteome of spermatogonia; 2) a comparative proteomic analysis of spermatogonia originating from 7 species, some of which being distantly related phylogenetically; 3) a differential proteomic analysis of spermatogonia vs. spermatocytes vs. spermatids, and 4) a differential proteomic analysis of Carcinoma in situ vs. spermatogonia. Our work, based on systematic or differential (2D-DIGE, ProteinChip/SELDI) proteomics strategies, has already led to the identification of numerous proteins, some known and some unknown in the testis. We have recently focused our investigations on several potent spermatogonia or other germ cell biomarkers and are currently gaining new insights on the role of these proteins in spermatogenesis. Our project should contribute to a better knowledge on germ cell behavior and more generally on the spermatogenic process. We should also be able to explain certain cases of infertility as well as the etiology of some testicular cancers.

KEY WORDS: Proteomics, Spermatogenesis