DEFB126 explained

Beta-defensin 126 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DEFB126 gene.^{[1] [2]}

Function

Defensins are cysteine-rich cationic polypeptides that are important in the immunologic response to invading microorganisms. The protein encoded by this gene is secreted and is a member of the beta defensin protein family. Beta defensin genes are found in several clusters throughout the genome, with this gene mapping to a cluster at 20p13. The encoded protein is highly similar to an epididymal-specific secretory protein (ESP13.2) from cynomolgus monkey.

It has been suggested that a common variation in the DEFB126 gene generates abnormal mRNA and can somewhat impair fertility.^[3]

Further reading

• Rodríguez-Jiménez FJ, Krause A, Schulz S, Forssmann WG, Conejo-Garcia JR, Schreeb R, Motzkus D . Distribution of new human beta-defensin genes clustered on chromosome 20 in functionally different segments of epididymis . Genomics . 81 . 2 . 175–83 . Feb 2003 . 12620395 . 10.1016/S0888-7543(02)00034-4 .
• Perry AC, Jones R, Moisyadi S, Coadwell J, Hall L . The novel epididymal secretory protein ESP13.2 in Macaca fascicularis . Biology of Reproduction . 61 . 4 . 965–72 . Oct 1999 . 10491631 . 10.1095/biolreprod61.4.965 . free .
• Suzuki Y, Yoshitomo-Nakagawa K, Maruyama K, Suyama A, Sugano S . Construction and characterization of a full length-enriched and a 5'-end-enriched cDNA library . Gene . 200 . 1–2 . 149–56 . Oct 1997 . 9373149 . 10.1016/S0378-1119(97)00411-3 .
• Maruyama K, Sugano S . Oligo-capping: a simple method to replace the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNAs with oligoribonucleotides . Gene . 138 . 1–2 . 171–4 . Jan 1994 . 8125298 . 10.1016/0378-1119(94)90802-8 .

Notes and References

1. Schutte BC, Mitros JP, Bartlett JA, Walters JD, Jia HP, Welsh MJ, Casavant TL, McCray PB . Discovery of five conserved beta -defensin gene clusters using a computational search strategy . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 99 . 4 . 2129–33 . Feb 2002 . 11854508 . 122330 . 10.1073/pnas.042692699 . 2002PNAS...99.2129S . free .
2. Web site: Entrez Gene: DEFB126 defensin, beta 126.
3. Tollner TL, Venners SA, Hollox EJ, Yudin AI, Liu X, Tang G, Xing H, Kays RJ, Lau T, Overstreet JW, Xu X, Bevins CL, Cherr GN . A common mutation in the defensin DEFB126 causes impaired sperm function and subfertility . Science Translational Medicine . 3 . 92 . 92ra65 . Jul 2011 . 21775668 . 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002289. 3736313 .
   • News: Pam Belluck . July 20, 2011 . Study Links Male Infertility to a Missing Protein . The New York Times . subscription.