Tektin 5 (TEKT5)

A complete cDNA encoding the Tekt5 transcript was assembled following RT30 PCR and 3'-RACE and predicted that TEKT5 is a 62,730 Dalton protein with an unusual, long Cterminus. Tekt5 mRNA was highly expressed during late stages of spermiogenesis. Among examined tissues, Tekt5 mRNA was only present in testis and brain and quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression level of mRNA in testis was 6.8-fold higher than that of brain. At the protein level, TEKT5 was present in sperm and was enriched in the accessory structures of flagella. Immunofluorescence confirmed that TEKT5 was localized throughout the sperm tail in flagellar accessory structures. The expression pattern suggests that TEKT5 plays an important role in flagella formation during spermiogenesis as well as being implicated in sperm motility.