H2B Histone Family, Member W, Testis Specific (H2BFWT)

Testis-specific histones, like H2BFWT, are synthesized and accumulate at specific stages of mammalian spermatogenesis. The deduced 175-amino acid protein shares 43% and 46% identity with the somatic H2B.1 protein and the testis/sperm-specific TSH2B protein, respectively. Highest similarity is in the C-terminal canonical H2B domains. Database analysis indicated that the H2BFWT gene is conserved among primates and is apparently absent from rodents. PCR of several tissues detectedH2BFWT expression in testis only. Immunolocalization detected H2BFWT at the nuclear membrane of sperm cells. H2BFWT showed even nuclear staining in 10% of transfected Chinese hamster fibroblasts and colocalized with telomeric sequences in large nuclear bodies in the other 90%.