A diversified set of testicular cell proteins specified by genes within the mouse t complex.

We have conducted a comparative high-resolution, two-dimensional gel analysis of testicular cell proteins synthesized by inbred mice congenic for a series of t haplotypes on the 129/SvJ background. At least nine t haplotype-specific proteins can be identified within the 1000 most prominent proteins observed. Apparent allelic wild-type forms of six of these t complex proteins (TCPs) have also been identified, and evidence from cell-free translation experiments indicates that all of these are coded for directly by genes within the t complex. Eight of the mutant t-haplotype-specific proteins are expressed in an identical form by testicular cells carrying any one of the complete t haplotypes analyzed. The ninth protein is polymorphic among different t haplotypes, as well as among different inbred strains of mice. Partial t haplotypes were used to map the genes specifying the expression of each TCP protein to a subregion of the t complex. The accumulated data suggest a subset of TCP proteins that are most likely to be involved in t haplotype effects on germ cell differentiation and fertility.