Biochemistry and molecular biology of mammalian spermatogenesis

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex process of cellular differentiation involving unique cytological and molecular processes that culminate in formation of spermatozoa. At present, particular emphasis is given to enzymes and proteins that appear during mammalian spermatogenesis and that are unique to the spermatozoon. This is best seen with the unique form of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-C4) that is synthesized in the primary spermatocyte during mid- pachytene of the first meiotic division. Studies are in progress on the nature of mechanisms regulating this remarkable time and cell-specific process, as well as with the molecular aspects of LDH-C4 itself. We have cloned and sequenced the Ldh-c gene and are characterizing the regulatory regions involved in specific gene activation. Also, the cell specificity of LDH-C4 is being examined with reference to problems in contraception technology and fertility control. These data are directly relevant to understanding control of gene expression during development and to gene mis-expression associated with cancer and infertility.

E. Goldberg (1996). "Minireview: Transcriptional regulatory strategies in male germ cells." J. Androl. 17:628-632.

S. Li, W. Zhou, L Doglio and E. Goldberg (1998). "Transgenic mice demonstrate a testis-specific promoter for lactate dehydrogenase (LHD)." J. Biol Chem. 273:31191-31194.

P. Jethanandani and E. Goldberg (2000). "Ldhc expression in non-germ cell nuclei is repressed by NF-I binding." J. Biol. Chem. 276:35414-35421.

E. Goldberg, J.L. VandeBerg, M. Mahony, and G.F. Doncel (2001). "Immune response of male baboons to testis-specific LDH-C4." Contraception 64:93-98.

T.L. Kroft, P. Jethanandani, D.J. McLean, and E. Goldberg (2001). "Methylation of CpG dinucleotides alters binding and silences testis-specific transcription directed by the mouse lactate dehydrogeanse C promoter." Biol. Reprod. 65:1522-1527.

H. Shen, E. Goldberg, W.M. Saltzman (2002). "Gene expression and mucosal immune responses after vaginal DNA immunization in mice using a controlled delivery matrix." Journal of Controlled Release 86: 339-348.

A. Narula, S. Kilen, E. Ma, J. Kroeger, E. Goldberg, and T.K. Woodruff (2002). "Smad4 Overexpression Causes Germ Cell Ablation and Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Transgenic Mice." Am. J. Pathology 161(5): 1723-1734.

L.X. Feng, Y. Chen, L. Dettin, R.A.R. Pera, J.C. Herr, E. Goldberg, and M. Dym (2002). "Generation and in vitro differentiation of a spermatogonial cell line." Science 297:392-395.

S. Narisawa, N.B.Hecht, E. Goldberg, and J.L. Millan (2002). "Testis-specific cytochrome C null mice produce functional sperm but undergo early testicular atrophy. Mol.& Cell. Biol. 22: 5554-5562.

S. Narisawa, E. Goldberg, and J.L. Millan (2003). "Mini: Abundance of repetitive sequence elements in the mouse testis-specific lactate dehydrogenase c gene." J. Androl. (In Press).

T.L. Kroft, S. Li, L. Doglio, and E. Goldberg (2003). "A transgenic analysis of mouse lactate dehydrogenase c promoter activity in the testis." J. Androl. 42(6): 843-852.

Dutta, R. and Goldberg, E. (2004) Lactate dehydrogenases are multifunctional proteins. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on Genes, Gene Families and Isozymes, Berlin, Germany, July 19-24, 2003.  

Somwaru, L., Li, S., Doglio, L.T., Goldberg, E., and Zirkin B. (2004) Heat-induced Apoptosis is suppressed by ectopic expression of mouse testis-specific calpastatin in meiotic cells. J. Androl. 25 :506-513.

Shen, H., Saltzman, W.M. and Goldberg, E. Mucosal immune responses after DNA immunization using a controlled delivery matrix.   In: Proceedings of the IX International Congress of Reproductive Immunology, Hakone, Japan, October 11-15, 2004.

Duan, C. and Goldberg, E. (2005) Catalytic and non-catalytic functions of testis specific lactate dehydrogenase. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on Genes, Gene Families and Isobymes, Shanghai, China, September 17-21, 2005.

Medrano, A., Fernandez-Novell, J.M., Ramio, L., Alvarez, J., Goldberg, E., Montserrat Rivera, M., Guinovart, J.J., Rigau, T. and Rodriguez-Gil, J.E.   (2006) Utilization of citrate and lactate through a lactate dehydrogenase and ATP-regulated pathway in boar spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73 :369-378.

View all publications by publications by Erwin Goldberg listed in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed).