Testis Expressed Protein 9 (TEX9)

The t-complex of the mouse occupies the proximal half of chromosome 17 and cantains genes which have profound effects on spermatogenesis. Mutations of several loci in the t-complex appear to interact to cause male sterility or transmission ratio distortion (TRD).t-complex testis-expressed (Tctex) genes. An analysis of their expression patterns in testes from +/+, +/t, and t/t mice was done by in situ hybridization and by northern blotting. Six genes begin to be expressed at the pachytene stage: Three of them are more abundant at pachytene stage, while three others are more abundant at postmeiotic stages. One gene is expressed at all the stages of spermatogenesis. Interestingly, four Tctex genes show differences in the amount of transcript between wild-type and t-mutant testes. The chromosomal location and expression pattern imply that Tctex genes might be candidate genes for sterility or TRD.