Academics

Faculty & Staff

Kenneth C Kleene, PhD

  • Professor and Director of Biotechnology Program -- Molecular and Developmental Biology
  • Telephone: 617-287-6679
  • Fax: 617-287-6650
  • Office Location: W-03-028

Degrees

PhD, University of Washington, 1973
BS, University of Wisconsin, 1966

Professional Publications & Contributions

  • Kleene KC, Bagarova J, Hawthorne SA, Cataldo L (2010) Quantiative analysis of mRNA translation in spermatids using Nycodenz and sucrose gradients. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 8:155.
  • Chowdhury TA, Kleene KC (2011) Identification of possible regulatory sequences in the 5’ and 3’ UTRs of 12 mRNAs which are translationally regulated in mammalian spermatids by comparative genomics. J Androl May 5. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Kleene KC (2011) Maybe mRNAs are not stored in the chromatoid body in mammalian spermatids. Reproduction 142, 383-388. Epub 2011 Jun 14.
  • Kleene KC. Control of mRNA translation in mammalian spermatids by general RNA binding proteins. In preparation.
  • Chowdhury T, Kleene KC. Translation of the Smcp mRNA in mouse spermatids is controlled by interactions between the 5’UTR and 3’UTR. In preparation.
  • Kleene KC, Bagarova J (2008) Comparative genomics reveals gene-specific and shared regulatory sequences in the spermatid-expressed mammalian Odf1, Prm1, Prm2, Tnp1, and Tnp2 genes. Genomics 92, 101-106.
  • Hawthorne SK, Busanelli RR, Kleene KC (2006) The 5’UTR and 3’UTR of the sperm mitochondria-associated cysteine-rich protein mRNA regulate translation in spermatids by multiple mechanisms in transgenic mice. Developmental Biology 87, 382-391.
  • Hawthorne SK, Goodarzi G, Bagarova J, Gallant KE, Busanelli RR, Olend W, Kleene KC (2006) Comparative genomics of the sperm-mitochondria associated cysteine- rich protein gene. Genomics 87, 382-391.
  • Kleene KC (2005) Sexual selection, genetic conflict, selfish genes and the atypical patterns of gene expression in spermatogenic cells. Developmental Biology 277, 16-26.
  • Kleene KC, Mastrangelo M-A, Cataldo L, Tagne J-B (2003) Alternative patterns of transcription and translation of the mouse ribosomal protein L32 mRNA. Experimental Cell Research 291, 101-110.
  • Kleene KC (2001) A possible meiotic function of the peculiar patterns of gene expression in mammalian spermatogenic cells. Mechanisms of Development 106, 3-23.
  • Zhong X, Kleene KC (1999) cDNA copies of the testis-specific lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-C) mRNA are present in spermatogenic cells in mice, but processed pseudogenes are not derived from mRNAs that are expressed in haploid and late meiotic spermatogenic cells. Mammalian Genome 10, 6-12.

Additional Information

Current Position
Professor and Director of Biotechnology Program
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts Boston

Research Interests
Spermatogenesis, translational regulation, cancer-testis associated genes, comparative genomics, atypical patterns of gene expression.

Research in my laboratory focuses on two interrelated topics, the mechanisms of translational regulation and the atypical patterns of gene expression in spermatogenic cells in mice. Currently, my lab is engaged in two projects. First, we are using transgenic mice and RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays to delineate the functions of the 5’ UTR, 3’UTR and RNA-binding proteins in regulating the developmental timing of translation of the sperm-mitochondria cysteine-rich protein mRNA in haploid spermatogenic cells. Translation of this mRNA is regulated by at least four separate mechanisms. Second, we are studying the mechanisms of expression of cancer- testis genes, a huge group of genes that evolved originally to enhance male reproductive success, and is activated abnormally in malignant cells. The theoretical basis both projects is influenced by the idea that differences in the selective pressures on somatic cells and spermatogenic cells, natural selection vs. sexual selection, produce atypical patterns of gene expression in spermatogenic cells. Our work uses comparative genomics of the vast amount of sequence information from mammalian genomes to identify conserved and novel regulatory elements and sequences that exhibit strong positive and negative selection.

Current Grant Support
National Science Foundation (2007-2010), MCB-0642128, $450,000. Title: Control of mRNA Translation during Spermatogenesis.
National Science Foundation (2004-2007), BCE-0348497, $381,000.00. Title: Control of mRNA Translation during Spermatogenesis.