Sex Determining Region Y Box Protein 3 (SOX3)

Stevanovic et al. (1993) cloned and characterized SOX3. A reverse transcription coupled with PCR (RT-PCR) was used to amplify SRY-related transcripts expressed during embryogenesis in human fetal spinal cord. Inspection of fragments detected by one of them showed a difference between males and females, suggesting a SOX gene located on the X chromosome. Isolation and sequencing of the gene showed 97.2% similarity to the protein encoded by the mouse Sox3 gene which is also located on the X chromosome. The RACE (rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends) method was used to define the 3-prime end of the transcript and to confirm that the SOX3 gene is expressed. Using the sensitive RT-PCR assay, SOX3 gene transcripts were detected in several fetal tissues.