of Human TCP11b Gene
MA Yong-Xin, ZHANG Si-Zhong*, WU Qia-Qing, SUN Yan
( The Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Ministry of Education; Department of Medical Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China )
Abstract Based on homology analysis and RT-PCR, a
novel isoform of human TCP11 gene was isolated. It encodes a 503 amino
acid protein that is highly homologous to the mouse 566 amino acid protein
Tcp-11. Tcp-11 is important to sperm function because it may be the receptor of
fertilization promoting peptide (FPP). Complicated alternative splicing was
found to exist between TCP11a and TCP11b genes. The gene has been
mapped to human chromosome band 6p21 by fluorescence in situ
hybridization. Results of Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis of RNA extracted
from human tissues revealed that the gene was expressed in fertile adult testes
only, but neither in azoospermic patient testes, fetal testes nor in other
human tissues. Our results suggest that TCP11b gene may be important to
human sperm function and male fertility.
Key words
TCP11b gene;
cloning; expression; alternative splicing
Corresponding author: Tel, 86-28-85422749; Fax, 86-28-85501518; e-mail, [email protected]