SPNXB Antibody

Background:

Temporally regulated transcription and translation ofseveral testis-specific genes is required to initiate the series ofmolecular and morphological changes in the male germ cell lineagenecessary for the formation of mature spermatozoa. This gene is amember of the SPANX family of cancer/testis-associated genes, whichare located in a cluster on chromosome X. The SPANX genes encodedifferentially expressed testis-specific proteins that localize tovarious subcellular compartments. This particular gene maps tochromosome X in a head-to-tail orientation with SPANX family memberB1 and appears to be a duplication of that locus. The SPANXB genesare unique members of this gene family, since they contain anadditional 18 nt in their coding region compared to the majority offamily members. Although the protein encoded by this gene containsconsensus nuclear localization signals, the major site forsubcellular localization of expressed protein is in the cytoplasmicdroplets of ejaculated spermatozoa. This protein provides abiochemical marker for studying the unique structures inspermatazoa, while attempting to further define its role inspermatogenesis.