Since its cloning in 1990, the human SRY gene has been formally identi
fied with the testis determining factor. The SRY gene encodes a 204 am
ino acid protein of the High Mobility Group family. Its ability to bin
d DNA, to bend DNA or to be translocated into the nuclear compartment
of the cell have now been established. However, neither its mode of ac
tion nor the description of target genes have been described so far, a
nd are the topics of many studies.