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Homology of a candidate spermatogenic gene from the mouse Y chromosome to the ubiquitin-activating enzyme El

Nature volume 354, pages 483–486 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

THE Sxr (sex-reversed) region, a fragment of the Y chromosome short arm, can cause chromosomally female XXSxr or XSxrO mice to develop as sterile males1–3. The original Sxr region, termed Sxra, encodes: Tdy, the primary sex-determining gene; Hya, the controlling or structural locus for the minor transplantation antigen H–Y (ref. 4); gene(s) controlling the expression of the serologically detected male antigen (SDMA)5; Spy, a gene(s) required for the survival and proliferation of A spermatogonia during spermatogenesis6,7; Zfy-l/Zfy-2, zinc-finger-containing genes of unknown function8; and Sry, which is probably identical to Tdy (ref. 9). A deletion variant10 of Sxra, termed Sxrb, which lacks Hya, SDMA expression, Spy and some Zfy-2 sequences, makes positional cloning of these genes possible. We report here the isolation of a new testis-specific gene, Sby, mapping to the DNA deleted from the Sxrb region (the ΔSxrb interval). Sby has extensive homology to the X-linked human ubiquitin-activating enzyme El (ref. 11). The critical role of this enzyme in nuclear DNA replication12 together with the testis-specific expression of Sby suggests Sby as a candidate for the spermatogenic gene Spy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory, Department of Ob/Gyn, Division of Reproductive Genetics, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105, USA

    Michael J. Mitchell, Diane R. Woods, Judith S. Opp & Colin E. Bishop

  2. Museum of Zoology and Department of Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA

    Priscilla K. Tucker

  3. Unité d'lmmunogénétique Humaine, INSERM U276, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris, 15, France

    Colin E. Bishop

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  1. Michael J. Mitchell
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  4. Judith S. Opp
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Mitchell, M., Woods, D., Tucker, P. et al. Homology of a candidate spermatogenic gene from the mouse Y chromosome to the ubiquitin-activating enzyme El. Nature 354, 483–486 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/354483a0

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