Boule Like Protein (BOLL)

BOLL belongs to the DAZ gene family required for germ cell development. It encodes an RNA-binding protein which is more similar to Drosophila Boule than to human proteins encoded by genes DAZ or DAZL. Loss of this gene function results in the absence of sperm in semen (azoospermia). Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been found for this gene.The protein encoded by human BOULE is more similar to Drosophila Boule than to human DAZ or DAZL. The BOULE protein contains a single RNA binding domain with signature RNP1 and RNP2 repeats. Extensive similarity is shared by the potential RNA binding domains of fly Boule, human BOULE, DAZ, and DAZL. The protein predicted by a mouse Boule cDNA clone was 86% identical to human BOULE.