Tektin 3 (TEKT3)

TEKT3 is a member of the tektin family of microtubule-associated cytoskeletal proteins primarily expressed in male germ cells.

The deduced human and mouse TEKT3 proteins contain 490 amino acids and share 83.5% sequence identity. TEKT3 is predicted to encode a highly charged alpha-helical protein forming a coiled-coil domain, 2 internal repeats, and a C-terminal nonapeptide signature conserved in tektin family members. RT-PCR analysis of human tissues detected TEKT3 expression exclusively in testis, similar to mouse Tekt3 expression. In situ hybridization analysis of developing and adult mouse testes demonstrated Tekt3 expression in a pattern restricted to late pachytene spermatocytes and early round spermatids.