MSY2 has been identified as a central component in the regulation of spermatogenesis in mice, but the potential role of its human orthologue, YBX2 or "Contrin," in human infertility is not known
The information of related literatures
1. Y. Deng, W. Zhang, D. Su, Y. Yang, Y. Ma, H. Zhang and S. Zhang (2008) Some single nucleotide polymorphisms of MSY2 gene might contribute to susceptibility to spermatogenic impairment in idiopathic infertile men. Urology 71(5): 878-82.
2. S. Hammoud, B. R. Emery, D. Dunn, R. B. Weiss and D. T. Carrell (2009) Sequence alterations in the YBX2 gene are associated with male factor infertility. Fertil Steril 91(4): 1090-5.
3. S. Tekur, A. Pawlak, G. Guellaen and N. B. Hecht (1999) Contrin, the human homologue of a germ-cell Y-box-binding protein. J Androl 20(1): 135-44.
Abstract Inactivation of germ-cell-specific molecules essential for the production of functional spermatozoa could lead to attractive new means for male contraception. The mouse protein MSY2 is the mammalian homologue of a class of Xenopus DNA/RNA-binding proteins needed for the transcription of testis-specific genes and for translational repression (masking) of paternal mRNAs. In this report, we describe the human homologue for MSY2, Contrin. Sequence analysis of Contrin cDNAs predicts a protein highly similar to its mouse and Xenopus germ-cell Y-box protein homologues with a cold shock domain and four basic/aromatic islands. Contrin is highly basic and is rich in the amino acids arginine and proline. It contains seven putative casein kinase 2 phosphorylation sites and three putative protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, suggesting that Contrin could be highly phosphorylated in vivo. The predicted protein sequence contains two nuclear localization signals, consistent with its predicted role of shuttling between nucleus and cytoplasm. Contrin maps to human chromosome 17p11.2-13.1. By the criteria of northern and western blotting, Contrin appears to be testis specific and distinct from other mammalian Y-box-binding proteins. We predict that inactivation of Contrin function in mammalian germ cells would prevent the formation of functional male gametes. PMID: [10100484]
Figures for illustrating the function of this protein/gene
Function
Major constituent of messenger ribonucleoproteinparticles (mRNPs). Involved in the regulation of the stabilityand/or translation of germ cell mRNAs. Binds to Y-box consensuspromoter element. Binds to full length mRNA with high affinity ina sequence-independent manner. Binds to short RNA sequencescontaining the consensus site 5'-UCCAUCA-3' with low affinity andlimited sequence specificity. Its binding with maternal mRNAs isnecessary for its cytoplasmic retention. May mark specific mRNAs(those transcribed from Y-box promoters) in the nucleus forcytoplasmic storage, thereby linking transcription and mRNAstorage/translational delay (By similarity).
Expressed in oocytes and testicular germ cellsin the stage of spermatogonia to spermatocyte. Also observedplacental trophoblasts, as well as in vascular smooth muscle cellsin the pulmonary artery, myocardium, and skeletal muscle.Undetectable in epithelial cells in respiratory, gastrointestinal,and urogenital tracts. Up-regulated in various carcinomas and germcell tumors (at protein level).
CHAIN 1 364 Y-box-binding protein 2. /FTId=PRO_0000100225. DOMAIN 93 163 CSD. REGION 87 169 Required for cytoplasmic retention (By similarity). REGION 217 364 Required for mRNA-binding. COMPBIAS 35 67 Gly-rich. COMPBIAS 185 352 Pro-rich. MOD_RES 116 116 N6-acetyllysine. VARIANT 9 9 G -> V (in dbSNP:rs222859). /FTId=VAR_027916. VARIANT 63 63 S -> P (in dbSNP:rs8069533). /FTId=VAR_027917. Back to Top