Identification and Characterization of CDNAs Encoding Four Novel Proteins That Interact with Translin Associated Factor-X

Translin-associated factor X (TRAX) is the predominantly cytoplasmic binding partner of TB-RBP/translin in mouse testis. Four mouse testis cDNAs encoding specific TRAX-interacting proteins were isolated from a yeast two-hybrid library screen. One novel cDNA designated Tsnaxip1 (TRAX-interacting protein-1) encodes 709 amino acids. We isolated a cDNA encoding the 427 carboxy-terminal amino acids of MEA-2, a Golgi-associated, maleenhanced autoantigen; a cDNA encoding 429 amino acids with 73% homology to centrosomal Akap9; and a cDNA encoding 346 amino acids with 75% homology to SUN1, a predicted human protein that contains a SUN domain (which is present in some perinuclear proteins). Interactions were verified using in vitro synthesized fusion proteins. All four genes were expressed in the testis and enriched in germ cells. Confocal microscopy studies using green fluorescent protein fusion proteins determined that these TRAX-interacting proteins colocalize with TRAX. The data suggest that TRAX may have a function associated with perinuclear organelles during spermatogenesis.