Structure, expression, and conserved physical linkage of mouse testicular cell adhesion molecule-1 (TCAM-1) gene

Isolation and characterization were performed for cDNA encoding mouse testi cular cell adhesion molecule-1 (TCAM-1) using 2908 bases coding for a prote in having 548 amino acids (60 kDa). Mouse TCAM-1 protein was found to consi st of seven domains for signal sequence, five immunoglobulin (Ig) domains, and the transmembrane plus cytoplasmic domain. TCAM-1 gene and the region l inking it to growth hormone (GH) gene located downstream from the TCAM-1 ge ne were then analyzed. The mouse TCAM-1 gene was 11.6 kb in length with 8 e xons; the same as for the 12.0 kb rat gene. The distance from the TCAM-1 to GH gene was 12.5 kb in the mouse genome, and 7.6 kb in the rat. By Norther n hybridization, 3.1-kb TCAM-1 mRNA was detected in 17-day testis and would appear present in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids.