VCX explained

Variable charge X-linked protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VCX gene.^{[1] [2] [3]}

This gene belongs to the VCX/Y gene family, which has multiple members on both X and Y chromosomes, and all are expressed exclusively in male germ cells. The X-linked members are clustered on chromosome Xp22 and Y-linked members are two identical copies of the gene within a palindromic region on Yq11. The family members share a high degree of sequence identity, with the exception that a 30-bp unit is tandemly repeated in X-linked members but occurs only once in Y-linked members. The VCX gene cluster is polymorphic in terms of copy number; different individuals may have a different number of VCX genes. VCX/Y genes encode small and highly charged proteins of unknown function. The presence of a putative bipartite nuclear localization signal suggests that VCX/Y members are nuclear proteins. This gene contains 10 repeats of the 30-bp unit.

Further reading

• Zou SW . Expression and localization of VCX/Y proteins and their possible involvement in regulation of ribosome assembly during spermatogenesis . Cell Res. . 13 . 3 . 171–7 . 2004 . 12862317 . 10.1038/sj.cr.7290161 . vanc. Zhang JC . Zhang XD . 3 . Miao . Shi Ying . Zong . Shu Dong . Sheng . Qi . Wang . Lin Fang . free .
• Sy SM . Genetic alterations of lung adenocarcinoma in relation to smoking and ethnicity . Lung Cancer . 41 . 1 . 91–9 . 2003 . 12826317 . 10.1016/S0169-5002(03)00138-7 . vanc. Wong N . Mok TS . 3 . Tsao . Ming-Sound . Lee . Tak-Wai . Tse . Gary . Blackhall . Fiona H. . Johnson . Philip J. . Yim . Anthony P. .
• Strausberg RL . Generation and initial analysis of more than 15,000 full-length human and mouse cDNA sequences . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. . 99 . 26 . 16899–903 . 2003 . 12477932 . 10.1073/pnas.242603899 . 139241 . vanc. Feingold EA . Grouse LH . 3 . Derge . JG . Klausner . RD . Collins . FS . Wagner . L . Shenmen . CM . Schuler . GD . 2002PNAS...9916899M . free .

Notes and References

1. Lahn BT, Page DC . A human sex-chromosomal gene family expressed in male germ cells and encoding variably charged proteins . Hum Mol Genet . 9 . 2 . 311–9 . Feb 2000 . 10607842 . 10.1093/hmg/9.2.311 . free .
2. Fukami M, Kirsch S, Schiller S, Richter A, Benes V, Franco B, Muroya K, Rao E, Merker S, Niesler B, Ballabio A, Ansorge W, Ogata T, Rappold GA . A Member of a Gene Family on Xp22.3, VCX-A, Is Deleted in Patients with X-Linked Nonspecific Mental Retardation . Am J Hum Genet . 67 . 3 . 563–73 . Sep 2000 . 10903929 . 1287516 . 10.1086/303047 .
3. Web site: Entrez Gene: VCX variable charge, X-linked.