Sperm Protein Associated With The Nucleus, X-Linked Family, Member N1 (SPANXN1)

SPANXN1 encodes a deduced 72-amino acid protein with a bipartite nuclear localization signal. Like the SPANXA-like gene family, human SPANXN genes are expressed in normal testis and some melanoma cell lines; testis-specific expression of SPANX is also conserved in mouse.

This gene represents one of several duplicated family members that are located on chromosome X. This gene family encodes proteins that play a role in spermiogenesis. These proteins represent a specific subgroup of cancer/testis-associated antigens, and they may be candidates for tumor vaccines. This family member belongs to a subgroup of related genes that are present in all primates and rats and mice, and thus, it represents one of the ancestral family members.