# TSSK-dependent signaling pathway in spermatogenesis

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $161,500

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Testis-specific serine kinases (TSSKs) belong to AMPK-related kinase family. Loss-of-function mutants of some
TSSK members lead to spermatogenesis defects in male mice, and several SNPs of TSSKs are associated with
male infertility in humans. However, the TSSK signaling mechanism during spermatogenesis is not understood.
This proposal employs Drosophila as a model system to investigate a novel kinase-substrate pair: TSSKs-class
IIa HDACs. Aim 1 will determine whether class IIa HDACs are substrates of TSSKs using both biochemical and
genetic approaches. Aim 2 will explore the functional relevance of TSSKs-class IIa HDACs during
spermatogenesis in Drosophila. Collectively, this proposal will establish class IIa HDACs as the key downstream
component of TSSK signaling.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10450404
- **Project number:** 1R03TR003626-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Biao Wang
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $161,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10450404

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10450404, TSSK-dependent signaling pathway in spermatogenesis (1R03TR003626-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10450404. Licensed CC0.

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