Human FATE is a novel X-linked gene expressed in fetal and adult testis

Previously, we identified a partial cDNA sequence of a novel human transcri pt, designated fetal and adult testis expressed transcript (FATE). FATE is testis-specific in fetal life and co-expressed with SRY in a 7 weeks old fe tal testis, suggesting a function in early testicular differentiation. Here in, full-length cDNA clones of human and porcine FATE were isolated and the gene structure and promoter region of the human FATE gene was characterize d. The human FATE gene, which maps to Xq28, consists of five exons spanning approximately 7 kb of genomic DNA. Examination of I kb of the FATE promote r region revealed the presence of a putative steroidogenic factor I (SF-1) binding site at position - 79 to - 71 upstream of the transcription start s ite. We propose that FATE might represent a novel target gene of SF-1 in hu man testicular differentiation and/or germ cell development. (C) 2001 Publi shed by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.