The DAZ (Deleted in AZoospermia) gene family encodes potential RNA binding proteins that are expressed in prenatal and postnatal germ cells of males and females. The protein encoded by this gene is localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm of fetal germ cells and to the cytoplasm of developing oocytes. In the testis, this protein is localized to the nucleus of spermatogonia but relocates to the cytoplasm during meiosis where it persists in spermatids and spermatozoa. Transposition and amplification of this autosomal gene during primate evolution gave rise to the DAZ gene cluster on the Y chromosome. Mutations in this gene have been linked to severe spermatogenic failure and infertility in males.[6]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Saxena R, Brown LG, Hawkins T, Alagappan RK, Skaletsky H, Reeve MP, Reijo R, Rozen S, Dinulos MB, Disteche CM, Page DC (Nov 1996). "The DAZ gene cluster on the human Y chromosome arose from an autosomal gene that was transposed, repeatedly amplified and pruned". Nature Genetics. 14 (3): 292–9. doi:10.1038/ng1196-292. PMID8896558. S2CID34964224.
^Ruggiu M, Cooke HJ (Jul 2000). "In vivo and in vitro analysis of homodimerisation activity of the mouse Dazl1 protein". Gene. 252 (1–2): 119–26. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(00)00219-5. PMID10903443.
^Tsui S, Dai T, Roettger S, Schempp W, Salido EC, Yen PH (May 2000). "Identification of two novel proteins that interact with germ-cell-specific RNA-binding proteins DAZ and DAZL1". Genomics. 65 (3): 266–73. doi:10.1006/geno.2000.6169. PMID10857750.
Seboun E, Barbaux S, Bourgeron T, Nishi S, Agulnik A, Egashira M, Nikkawa N, Bishop C, Fellous M, McElreavey K, Kasahara M, Algonik A (Apr 1997). "Gene sequence, localization, and evolutionary conservation of DAZLA, a candidate male sterility gene". Genomics. 41 (2): 227–35. doi:10.1006/geno.1997.4635. PMID9143498.
Ruggiu M, Speed R, Taggart M, McKay SJ, Kilanowski F, Saunders P, Dorin J, Cooke HJ (Sep 1997). "The mouse Dazla gene encodes a cytoplasmic protein essential for gametogenesis". Nature. 389 (6646): 73–7. Bibcode:1997Natur.389...73R. doi:10.1038/37987. PMID9288969. S2CID8809115.
Chai NN, Phillips A, Fernandez A, Yen PH (Aug 1997). "A putative human male infertility gene DAZLA: genomic structure and methylation status". Molecular Human Reproduction. 3 (8): 705–8. doi:10.1093/molehr/3.8.705. PMID9294855. S2CID3489111.
Tsui S, Dai T, Roettger S, Schempp W, Salido EC, Yen PH (May 2000). "Identification of two novel proteins that interact with germ-cell-specific RNA-binding proteins DAZ and DAZL1". Genomics. 65 (3): 266–73. doi:10.1006/geno.2000.6169. PMID10857750.
Ruggiu M, Cooke HJ (Jul 2000). "In vivo and in vitro analysis of homodimerisation activity of the mouse Dazl1 protein". Gene. 252 (1–2): 119–26. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(00)00219-5. PMID10903443.