Molecular Characterization of Human Testis Specific Homeobox Gene TSX1

• Main Authors: Kuo-Kuang Li, 李國光
• Other Authors: Hsiu-Mei Hsieh
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/51634621643491695637

碩士 === 台北醫學院 === 醫學研究所 === 89 === Homeobox genes encode homeodomain proteins, which are a family of transcription factors characterized by a 60-amino acid domain that binds to certain regions of DNA. Homeobox genes are known to be intricately involved in embryonic development, but less is known about their function in the differentiation processes of the adult organs. To identify novel homeobox genes involved in development, we employed a PCR strategy using degenerate primers and screening of human testis cDNA library. We have named it TSX1 (testis-specific homeobox gene) according to its expression specificity. The purposes of this study is to further characterize this gene: (1) TSX1 gene expression patterns-- Analysis of TSX1 gene expression pattern by RT-PCR, Northern blot and in situ hybridization show that TSX1 is only detectable in germ cell and Sertoli cell of the human testis. Spermatogenesis is supported by and dependent on an intimate interaction between germ cells and Sertoli cells, which provide the microenvironment essential for functional spermatogenesis. The results of transcript localization data imply the functional role of TSX1 during spermatogenesis. (2) Gene integrity in the infertile individuals-- An intensive PCR screening have been performed on 300 infertile man DNA samples with 4 pairs of primers across the fours exons of the TSX1 gene locus. The results showed that TSX1 might be essential for testis development.