Identification of a novel Sry-related gene and its germ cell-specific expression.
Sox family proteins are characterized by a unique DNA-binding domain, a HMG box which shows at least 50% sequence similarity with mouse Sry, the sex-determining factor. At present almost 30 Sox genes have been identified. Members of this family have been shown to be conserved during evolution and to play key roles during animal development. Some are involved in human diseases, including sex reversal. Here we report the isolation of a novel member of the Sox gene family, Sox30, which may constitute a distinct subgroup of this family. Using a bacterially expressed DNA-binding domain of Sox30, we show that it is able to specifically recognize the ACAAT motif. Furthermore, Sox30 is capable of activating transcription from a synthetic promoter containing the ACAAT motif. The specific expression of Sox30 in normal testes, but not in maturing germ cell-deficient testes, suggests the involvement of Sox30 in differentiation of male germ cells. Mapping analyses revealed that the Sox30 gene is located on human chromosome 5 (5q33) and on mouse chromosome 11.
Osaki
E
E
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Nishina
Y
Y
Inazawa
J
J
Copeland
N G
NG
Gilbert
D J
DJ
Jenkins
N A
NA
Ohsugi
M
M
Tezuka
T
T
Yoshida
M
M
Semba
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors; D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors; C000610511:SOX30 protein, human; D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors; C497745:SRY protein, human; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; C497746:Sry protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C119840:sox21a protein, zebrafish