Temporal and spatial expression profile of the novel armadillo-related gene, Alex2, during testicular differentiation in the mouse embryo

Abstract

In a screen for transcripts differentially expressed during gonadal development in mouse embryos, we identified the novel armadillo-related gene, Alex2. The armadillo (arm) family of proteins share a 42 amino acid tandem repeat motif called the arm domain, through which they interact with different binding partners. These intracellular proteins are implicated in a variety of developmental processes, including cell proliferation, migration, maintenance of tissue integrity, and tumorigenesis. Alex2 is a member of a novel subgroup within the arm family, encoding a protein with a single arm domain and a putative transmembrane or signal sequence. Alex2 has a developmentally regulated expression p..