Ring Finger Protein 141 (RNF141)

RNF141 contains a RING finger, a motif known to be involved in protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions. Abundant expression of this gene was found in the testicular tissue of fertile men, but was not detected in azoospermic patients. Studies of the mouse counterpart suggest that this gene may function as a testis specific transcription factor during spermatogenesis. ZNF230 has two transcripts, of 1 kb and 4.4 kb in length. The shorter 1 kb transcript was only detected in testicular tissue whereas the longer 4.4 kb transcript was not detected in testis but was found in several other tissues. The lack of detectable ZNF230 expression in azoospermic patients by reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR analysis is interpreted to mean that this gene is involved in maintaining normal human male fertility.