Sperm Protein Associated With The Nucleus, X-Linked Family, Member N1 (SPANXN1)

SPANXN1 encodes a deduced 72-amino acid protein with a bipartite nuclear localization signal. Like the SPANXA-like gene family, human SPANXN genes are expressed in normal testis and some melanoma cell lines; testis-specific expression of SPANX is also conserved in mouse.This gene represents one of several duplicated family members that are located on chromosome X. This gene family encodes proteins that play a role in spermiogenesis. These proteins represent a specific subgroup of cancer/testis-associated antigens, and they may be candidates for tumor vaccines. This family member belongs to a subgroup of related genes that are present in all primates and rats and mice, and thus, it represents one of the ancestral family members.