Characterization of the porcine testis-expressed gene 11 (Tex11).
Testis expressed gene 11 (Tex11) is essential for meiosis and male fertility in the mouse. Currently, little is known about the control of spermatogenesis in non-rodent animal models such as pigs. Here, we characterized the sequence and expression profile of the porcineTex11gene. We showed that the porcineTex11is an X-linked gene that is exclusively expressed in germ cells in the adult pig testis. The expression of porcineTex11is correlated with the onset of meiosis and the expression pattern is highly conserved between theTex11homologs in pig and mouse. The DNA sequence analysis and the estimated molecular weight also suggested a high level of homology across species. As the mouseTex11proved to be essential for male fertility, the important biological function during meiosis is likely conserved in the porcineTex11.
Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Calgary; Calgary, AB Canada.
Lin
L
Tang
College of Animal Science & Technology; Northwest A & F University; Shaanxi, China.
Wenxian
W
Zeng
Health Division; Cumberland County STEM and College; Vineland, NJ USA.
Robert K
RK
Clark
Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Calgary; Calgary, AB Canada.
Ina
I
Dobrinski