• PMID: 15897968
• Gene Name: IQCH
• Condition: Has a potential role in testis development and spermatogenesis
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Has a potential role in testis development and spermatogenesis

Identification of a novel testis-specific gene and its potential roles in testis development/spermatogenesis

Yin LL, Li JM, Zhou ZM, Sha JH.

AIM: To identify and characterize a novel gene with potential roles in testis development and spermatogenesis. METHODS: A cDNA microarray was constructed from a human testis large insert cDNA library and hybridized with probes of human or mouse adult and fetal testes. Differentially expressed genes were isolated and sequenced. RT-PCR was used to test the tissue distribution of the genes of interest and in situ hybridization was performed to localize the gene expression in the mouse testis. A range of bioinformatical programs including Gene Runner, SMART, NCBI Blast and Emboss CpGPlot were used to characterize the new gene's feature. RESULTS: A novel testis-specific gene, NYD-SP5, was differentially expressed in fetal and adult testes. The deduced protein structure of NYD-SP5 was found to contain an IQ motif (a short calmodulin-binding motif containing conserved Ile and Gln residues), a Carbamate kinase-like domain, a Zn-dependent exopeptidase domain and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) C-terminal-like domain. RT-PCR analysis revealed that NYD-SP5 was predominantly expressed in the testis but not in other 15 tissues examined. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR examinations revealed that the expression of NYD-SP5 was confined in the male germ cell but not present in the somatic cell in the testes. CONCLUSION: NYD-SP5 is a newly found testis-specific gene with potential roles in testis development and spermatogenesis through a calmodulin-activated enzyme. FAU - Yin, Lan-Lan AU - Yin LL AD - Key Laborary of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China. FAU - Li, Jian-Min AU - Li JM FAU - Zhou, Zuo-Min AU - Zhou ZM