• PMID: 16955368
• Gene Name: SPATA9
• Condition: Plays an important role in testicular development and spermatogenesis and may be an important factor governing male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Plays an important role in testicular development and spermatogenesis and may be an important factor governing male infertility

NYD-SP15: a novel gene potentially involved in regulating testicular development and spermatogenesis

Liu Q, Liu J, Cao Q, Sha J, Zhou Z, Wang H, Li J.

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. FAU - Liu, Qinghuai AU - Liu Q AD - Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Han Zhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China. FAU - Liu, Jin AU - Liu J FAU - Cao, Qinhong AU - Cao Q FAU - Sha, Jiahao AU - Sha J FAU - Zhou, Zuomin AU - Zhou Z FAU - Wang, Hui AU - Wang H