A heat-shock protein 40, DNAJB13, is an axoneme-associated component in mouse spermatozoa.

DNAJB13 is a type II HSP40/DnaJ protein. Using a specific antibody raised against the recombinant DNAJB13 protein, we characterized DNAJB13 in mouse testes and epididymal spermatozoa. The expression of DNAJB13 protein in testis was undetectable until postnatal Week 4 revealed by Western blot analysis, whereas Dnajb13 mRNA was detectable as early as postnatal Week 1 by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed that DNAJB13 was localized in the cytoplasm of spermatids from step 2 to 3 onward with the strongest expression in step 9-10, and in the spermatid flagella. In mature spermatozoa, DNAJB13 was present along the entire length of the sperm flagellum, but not in the SDS-resistant tail structures lacking the flagellar axoneme, strongly suggesting that DNAJB13 is an axoneme-associated component. In addition, we showed that the expression of Dnajb13 mRNA and DNAJB13 protein was unaltered after heat shock treatment, indicating that DNAJB13 was constitutively expressed in mouse testis. Taken together, the present study suggested that DNAJB13 might be involved in assembly and stability of axoneme during sperm flagellum development.