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Abstract

Functional role of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase in meiosis I (PDF) (HTML) 
Kharbanda,Surender; Pandey,Pramrod; Morris,Patricia L.; Whang,Y.; Zhu,Li-Ji; Kumar,Narender; Yuan,Zhi-Min; Weichselbaum,Ralph; Sawyers,Charles L.; Pandita,T.; Kufe,Donald
Oncogene 16(14): 1773-1778
Publication date: 1998

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The c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated by ionizing radiation and certain other DNA-damaging agents. The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNAPK) and the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene product, effectors in the DNA damage response, contribute to the induction of c-Abl activity. The present study demonstrates that c-Abl is expressed in mouse and rat testes, and predominantly in pachytene spermatocytes of meiosis I. The results also demonstrate that c-Abl interacts directly with meiotic chromosomes. In concert with a requirement for c-Abl at the pachytene stage, we show that, in contrast to wild-type mice, testes from Abl mice exhibit defects in spermatogenesis. These findings provide the first demonstration that c-Abl plays a functional role in meiosis.

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