NYD-SP15: a novel gene potentially involved in regulating testicular development and spermatogenesis.
By hybridizing human adult testis cDNA microarrays with human adult and embryo testis cDNA probes, we identified a novel human testis gene, NYD-SP15. NYD-SP15 expression was 3.26-fold higher in adult than in fetal testis; however, there was almost no NYD-SP15 expression in the sperm. NYD-SP15 comprises 3364 base pairs, including a 1545 bp open reading frame encoding a 514 amino acid protein possessing 89% sequence identity with the mouse testis homologous protein. NYD-SP15 is located on human chromosome 13q14.2. The deduced structure of the protein contains two dCMP_cyt_deam domains, indicating a potential functional role for zinc ion binding. The gene is expressed variably in a wide range of tissues, with high expression levels in the testis. Sequence analysis revealed that NYD-SP15 is not a highly conserved protein, with its distribution in high-level species such as vertebrates including Homo, Mus, Rattus, and Canis. The results of semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction in mouse testis representing different developmental stages indicate that NYD-SP15 expression was developmentally regulated. These results suggest the putative NYD-SP15 protein may play an important role in testicular development and spermatogenesis and may be an important factor governing male infertility.
Liu
Qinghuai
Q
Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Han Zhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Liu
Jin
J
Cao
Qinhong
Q
Sha
Jiahao
J
Zhou
Zuomin
Z
Wang
Hui
H
Li
Jianmin
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
C520503:CDADC1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors