Spermatogenesis Associated Protein 12 (SPATA12)

Using digital differential display to identify novel genes expressed in testis, Li and Lu (2004) identified SPATA12. By PCR amplification, they subsequently cloned full-length SPATA12 from a human testis cDNA library. SPATA12 encodes a 190-amino acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 20.4 kD. Northern blot analysis detected testis-specific expression of a 2.43-kb SPATA12 transcript.Li and Lu (2004) determined that the SPATA12 gene contains 2 exons spanning approximately 15 kb.By sequence analysis, Li and Lu (2004) mapped the SPATA12 gene to chromosome 3p21.2-p21.1.Spermatogenesis is the process by which male spermatogonia develop into mature spermatozoa, also known as sperm cells. Spermatozoa are the mature male gametes in many sexually reproducing organisms.