A gene expressed specifically in the testis has been unexpectedly isolated
in the course of studies of the expression of a gene encoding an unknown
protein that triggers cell death. The isolated gene was a novel gene
sequence that had no significant homologue in the database. This gene was
also found to be involved in the regulation of differentiation in the
testis and to encode a protein, Tesmin, which may regulate the
differentiation of spermatogeneous cells into primary spermatocytes.
Tesmin proteins are described herein, as are antibodies that bind to such
proteins.