Identification and predominant expression of annexin A2 in epithelial-type cells of the rice field eel

Annexin is the largest family of genes encoding eukaryotic calcium‐binding proteins that do not contain the EF hand motif. Annexin A2 has a common annexin core domain, consisting of four so‐called annexin repeats, and each of these repeats has about 70 amino acids in length. Here we report identification of annexin A2 from rice field eel by degenerate PCR and RACE techniques. Three‐dimensional structure prediction shows that it has similar annexin repeat architecture. Phylogenetic analysis shows that this gene fits with the annexin A2 clade of vertebrates. Subcellular co‐localization and co‐immunoprecipitation indicated annexin A2 interacted with its ligand S100A10, confirming characteristics of the rice field eel annexin A2. RT‐PCR and Western blot results indicate annexin A2 expressed ubiquitously in adult tissues. Immunofluorescence analysis shows obvious immunoreactivity in the nuclear membrane of developing oocytes and base membrane of mature oocytes in ovary and ovotestis. After the gonad differentiates into testis, annexin A2 protein expressed in the site of seminal vesicles epithelium in testis. The results provided a clue to the potential role of annexin A2 in the gonadal differentiation from ovary, via ovotestis to testis of the rice field eel. J. Cell. Biochem. 101: 600–608, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.