Nucleotide Sequence of cDNA and the Gene Expression of Testis-Specific Protein Y in the Japanese Monkey

Abstract

We cloned the cDNA for Japanese monkey Testis-Specific Protein Y (TSPY). The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 246 amino acids. This coding fragment shared 89% nucleotide sequence identity and 81% amino acid sequence identity with the homologous fragment of previously isolated human TSPY cDNA. Monkey TSPY was assumed to be a molecular mass of 28 kDa and an isoelectric point of pH 5.35. This protein was hydrophilic and contained an Arg and Lys-rich region which was a potential DNA binding site. Expression of the TSPY gene examined by reverse transcription PCR showed that the transcript was detectable only in testis, suggesting that TSPY plays an important role in spermatogenesis of primates.