deleted in azoospermia protein 4 (DAZ4)

Function

• RNA-binding protein
• role in spermatogenesis
• binds 3'UTR of mRNAs & regulates their translation (putative)
• forms a heterodimer with BOLL & DAZL
• interacts with PUM2, DAZAP1, DAZAP2, DZIP1 & DZIP3
  • DAZ-like repeats mediate interaction with DAZAP1 & DAZAP2

Structure

• belongs to the RNP DAZ family
• contains 9 DAZ-like domains
  • contains 2 RRM domains (RNA recognition motif)

Compartment

• cytoplasm, nucleus
• predominantly cytoplasmic
• nuclear in fetal gonocytes & in spermatogonia
• relocates to cytoplasm during male meiosis

Alternative splicing

named isoforms=2

Expression

testis specific

Pathology

• deletions in the Yq11.23 region, including the DAZ genes, are a cause of azoospermia or oligospermia DAZ4 is the only DAZ gene whose expression has not been clearly demonstrated

Polymorphism

• number & structure of DAZ proteins varies within a population

More general terms

• RNA-binding protein
• DAZ protein (deleted in azoospermia protein)

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/400003
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/415000
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q86SG3.html