Sperm Protein Associated With The Nucleus, X-Linked Family, Member N4 (SPANXN4)

SPANXN4 represents one of several duplicated family members that are located on the X chromosome. 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.

SPANXN genes contain 2 exons and a highly conserved 650-bp intron that includes about 400 bp of an endogenous retrovirus long-terminal repeat (ERV-LTR). SPANXN4 encodes a deduced 159-amino acid protein with a bipartite nuclear localization signal.