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The SOX gene family: function and regulation in testis determination and male fertility maintenance

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Abstract

The Sox (Sry-type HMG box) genes encode a group of proteins characterized by the existence of an SRY (sex-determining region on Y chromosome) box, a 79 amino acid motif that encodes an HMG (high mobility group) domain which can bind and bend DNA, which is the only part in SRY that is conserved between species. The Sox gene family functions in many aspects in embryogenesis, including testis development, CNS neurogenesis, oligodendrocyte development, chondrogenesis, neural crest cell development and other respects. The Sox gene family was originally identified through homology with Sry. The Sry gene is the mammalian testis-determining gene. It functions to open the testis determination pathway directly and close the ovary pathway indirectly. Sry and Sox9 are the most important two genes expressed during testis determination. Besides, researchers have found that Sox8 and Sox9 have functions in the male fertility maintenance after birth. In this review, information was evaluated from mouse or from human if not mentioned otherwise.

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Abbreviations

Dax1:

DSS(dosage-sensitive sex reversal)-CAH(congenital adrenal hypoplasia) critical region on the X chromosome protein

Fgf9:

Fibroblast growth factor 9

Wnt4:

Wingless-related MMTV integration site 4

Wt1 :

Wilms’ tumor suppressor gene 1

AMH/MIS:

Anti-Müllerian ducts hormone/Müllerian inhibiting substance

Sf1:

The steroidogenic factor 1

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to all members of the Sperm Laboratory at Zhejiang University for their enlightening discussion. This project was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41276151 and 31072198).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sperm Laboratory, Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China

    Ting Jiang, Cong-Cong Hou, Zhen-Yu She & Wan-Xi Yang

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  1. Ting Jiang
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  2. Cong-Cong Hou
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Correspondence to Wan-Xi Yang.

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Jiang, T., Hou, CC., She, ZY. et al. The SOX gene family: function and regulation in testis determination and male fertility maintenance. Mol Biol Rep 40, 2187–2194 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-2279-3

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