TBC1D21 Potentially Interacts with and Regulates Rap1 during Murine Spermatogenesis

Few papers have focused on small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins and their regulation during spermatogenesis. TBC1D21 genes (also known as male germ cell RAB GTPase-activating protein MGCRABGAP) are related to sterility, as determined through cDNA microarray testing of human testicular tissues exhibiting spermatogenic defects. TBC1D21 is a protein specifically expressed in the testes that exhibits specific localizations of elongating and elongated spermatids during mammalian spermiogenesis. Furthermore, through co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and nano liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (nano LC–MS/MS), Rap1 has been recognized as a potential TBC1D21 interactor. This study determined the possible roles of Rap1 and TBC1D21 during mammalian spermiogenesis. First, the binding ability between Rap1 and TBC1D21 was verified using co-IP. Second, the stronger signals of Rap1 expressed in elongating and elongated murine spermatids extracted from testicular sections, namely spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids, were compared. Third, Rap1 and TBC1D21 exhibited similar localizations at postacrosomal regions of spermatids and at the midpieces of mature sperms, through isolated male germ cells. Fourth, the results of an activating Rap1 pull-down assay indicated that TBC1D21 overexpression inactivates Rap1 activity in cell models. In conclusion, TBC1D21 may interact with and potentially regulate Rap1 during murine spermatogenesis.