High impact information on Usp9y

• The human DFFRY mRNA is expressed in a wide range of adult and embryonic tissues, including testis, whereas the homologous mouse Dffry gene is expressed specifically in the testis [1].
• Characterisation of the coding sequence and fine mapping of the human DFFRY gene and comparative expression analysis and mapping to the Sxrb interval of the mouse Y chromosome of the Dffry gene [1].
• DFFRY (the Y-linked homologue of the DFFRX Drosophila fat-facets related X gene) maps to proximal Yq11.2 within the interval defining the AZFa spermatogenic phenotype [1].
• The complete coding region of DFFRY has been sequenced and shows 89% identity to the X-linked gene at the nucleotide level [1].
• The mouse Dffry gene maps to the Sxrb deletion interval on the short arm of the mouse Y chromosome and its expression in mouse testis can first be detected between 7.5 and 10.5 days after birth when type A and B spermatogonia and pre-leptotene and leptotene spermatocytes are present [1].

Biological context of Usp9y

• Analysis of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide changes suggests that there is constraint on the amino acid sequence of both the mouse Usp9x and Usp9y genes, a finding that mirrors similar analysis of the human orthologs [2].
• In this paper, it is shown that the Usp9y gene encodes a potentially functional ubiquitin-specific protease possessing a core promoter region that shares several features characteristic of other testis-specific genes [2].
• Usp9y (ubiquitin-specific protease 9 gene on the Y) is associated with a functional promoter and encodes an intact open reading frame homologous to Usp9x that is under selective constraint [2].

References