TEX15

gene
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Also known as CT42

Summary

TEX15 (testis expressed 15, meiosis and synapsis associated, HGNC:11738) is a protein-coding gene on chromosome 8p12, encoding Testis-expressed protein 15 (Q9BXT5). Required during spermatogenesis for normal chromosome synapsis and meiotic recombination in germ cells.

This gene encodes a protein that is required for DNA double-strand break repair, chromosome synapsis, and meiotic recombination in spermatocytes. Male mice with a knockout of the orthologous gene are viable but sterile. Loss-of-function mutations in the orthologous mouse gene cause early meiotic arrest in spermatocytes, before the mid-pachytene stage. Naturally occurring mutations in this gene are associated with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Source: NCBI Gene 56154 — RefSeq curated summary.

At a glance

  • Gene–disease (curated): male infertility with azoospermia or oligozoospermia due to single gene mutation (Supportive, GenCC) — +1 more curated relationship
  • GWAS associations: 1
  • Clinical variants (ClinVar): 534 total — 7 pathogenic, 15 likely-pathogenic
  • Phenotypes (HPO): 12
  • MANE Select transcript: NM_001350162

Identifiers

Gene identifiers

FieldValue
HGNC IDHGNC:11738
Approved symbolTEX15
Nametestis expressed 15, meiosis and synapsis associated
Location8p12
Locus typegene with protein product
StatusApproved
AliasesCT42
Ensembl geneENSG00000133863
Ensembl biotypeprotein_coding
OMIM605795
Entrez56154

Gene structure

Transcript identifiers

Ensembl transcripts: 4 — 3 protein_coding, 1 protein_coding_CDS_not_defined

ENST00000256246, ENST00000518257, ENST00000638951, ENST00000643185

RefSeq mRNA: 1 — MANE Select: NM_001350162 NM_001350162

CCDS: CCDS87593

Canonical transcript exons

ENST00000643185 — 11 exons

ExonStartEnd
ENSE000009116023083680330838061
ENSE000009116033083990630839964
ENSE000011670663083154430833323
ENSE000020908193086726530867502
ENSE000021095013085866830858830
ENSE000021137153085991130860057
ENSE000021336193087493730875102
ENSE000038038103084200430849316
ENSE000038186103089874230898817
ENSE000038271813091287930913008
ENSE000038301423088716730887311

Expression profiles

Bgee: expression breadth broad, 76 present calls, max score 95.02.

FANTOM5 (CAGE): breadth tissue_specific, TPM avg 0.4242 / max 39.9982, expressed in 142 samples.

FANTOM5 promoters (3 alternative TSS)

Promoter IDTPM avgSamples expressed
926420.231296
926410.140759
926430.052324

Top tissues by expression

257 total, by Bgee expression score (0-100, higher = more expressed):

TissueAnatomy IDExpression scoreQuality
male germ line stem cell (sensu Vertebrata) in testisCL:0000089 ∩ UBERON:000047395.02gold quality
spermCL:000001991.64gold quality
male germ cellCL:000001588.05gold quality
secondary oocyteCL:000065582.40gold quality
primordial germ cell in gonadCL:0000670 ∩ UBERON:000099178.93gold quality
testisUBERON:000047378.44gold quality
right testisUBERON:000453477.27gold quality
left testisUBERON:000453376.13gold quality
oocyteCL:000002371.17gold quality
body of uterusUBERON:000985371.17gold quality
smooth muscle tissueUBERON:000113564.23gold quality
ventricular zoneUBERON:000305363.90gold quality
buccal mucosa cellCL:000233662.90gold quality
ganglionic eminenceUBERON:000402361.88gold quality
pancreatic ductal cellCL:000207961.29silver quality
adult organismUBERON:000702360.95gold quality
myometriumUBERON:000129660.47gold quality
cauda epididymisUBERON:000436056.65gold quality
embryoUBERON:000092256.27gold quality
uterusUBERON:000099554.81gold quality
tibialis anteriorUBERON:000138554.10silver quality
ileal mucosaUBERON:000033153.78silver quality
caudate nucleusUBERON:000187353.53gold quality
cortical plateUBERON:000534353.20gold quality
epithelial cell of pancreasCL:000008352.75gold quality
putamenUBERON:000187452.58gold quality
deltoidUBERON:000147652.46gold quality
gall bladderUBERON:000211051.85gold quality
myocardiumUBERON:000234951.72gold quality
left ventricle myocardiumUBERON:000656651.17gold quality

Single-cell (SCXA)

Detected in 1 experiment(s), a significant marker in 1.

ExperimentMarker?Max mean expression
E-ANND-3yes6.03

Regulation

Is transcription factor: no

Literature-anchored findings (GeneRIF, showing 6)

  • the polymorphisms rs323346 and rs323347 of the TEX15 gene could be considered the genetic risk factors for spermatogenic failure in the Chinese Han population (PMID:22581801)
  • Data identified nonsense mutation in TEX15 gene co-segregating with the infertility phenotype, as the cause of spermatogenic defects. (PMID:26199321)
  • TEX15 could become a clinical marker for detection of nonobstructive azoospermia or cryptozoospermia–{CASE REPORT} (PMID:28303806)
  • Our results indicate a potential role in breast cancer predisposition for heterozygous truncating mutations in FANCD2 and TEX15. Based on our results, FANCD2 c.2715 + 1G > A might act as a moderate breast cancer risk allele, adding FANCD2 to the list of shared genes between FA and breast cancer. (PMID:28386063)
  • In Han Chinese, the rare variant, Q1631H in DNA repair gene, TEX15, is associated with prostate cancer risk. (PMID:28730685)
  • This result suggests that regular expression of TEX11, TEX12, TEX14 and TEX15 is essential for the early stages of spermatogenesis. (PMID:29932616)

Cross-species orthologs

3 orthologs

OrganismSymbolGene ID
danio_reriotex15ENSDARG00000098929
mus_musculusTex15ENSMUSG00000009628
rattus_norvegicusTex15ENSRNOG00000007748

Protein

Protein identifiers

Testis-expressed protein 15Q9BXT5 (reviewed: Q9BXT5)

Alternative names: Cancer/testis antigen 42

All UniProt accessions (3): A0A1W2PS94, A0A2R8Y358, Q9BXT5

UniProt curated annotations — full annotation on UniProt →

Function. Required during spermatogenesis for normal chromosome synapsis and meiotic recombination in germ cells. Necessary for formation of DMC1 and RAD51 foci on meiotic chromosomes, suggesting a specific role in DNA double-stranded break repair. Essential executor of PIWIL4-piRNA pathway directed transposon DNA methylation and silencing in the male embryonic germ cells. PIWIL4-piRNA binds to nascent transposon transcripts and interacts with TEX15, which may in turn recruit the epigenetic silencing machinery to the transposon loci. Not required for piRNA biosynthesis.

Subunit / interactions. Interacts with PIWIL4 and PIWIL2.

Subcellular location. Cytoplasm. Nucleus.

Tissue specificity. Expressed in testis, predominantly in germ cells. Low expression, if any, in ovary. Also expressed in several cancers.

Disease relevance. Spermatogenic failure 25 (SPGF25) [MIM:617960] An autosomal recessive infertility disorder caused by spermatogenesis defects that result in severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.

Similarity. Belongs to the TEX15 family.

RefSeq proteins (1): NP_001337091* (*=MANE)

Domains & families (InterPro)

IDNameType
IPR026616TEX15Family
IPR032765TEX15_domDomain

Pfam: PF15326

UniProt features (23 total): sequence variant 10, compositionally biased region 7, region of interest 5, chain 1

Structure

Experimental structures (PDB)

0 structures.

Predicted structure (AlphaFold)

No AlphaFold model available for Q9BXT5 — AlphaFold DB does not currently provide models for proteins above ~3000 aa.

Function

Pathways and Gene Ontology

Reactome pathways

4 pathways

IDPathway
R-HSA-912446Meiotic recombination
R-HSA-1474165Reproduction
R-HSA-1500620Meiosis
R-HSA-1640170Cell Cycle

MSigDB gene sets: 162 (showing top): GOBP_MEIOTIC_CHROMOSOME_SEGREGATION, GOBP_REGULATION_OF_DOUBLE_STRAND_BREAK_REPAIR, REACTOME_MEIOTIC_RECOMBINATION, GOBP_CHROMOSOME_ORGANIZATION, GOBP_REGULATION_OF_DNA_RECOMBINATION, PEREZ_TP63_TARGETS, GOBP_REGULATION_OF_DOUBLE_STRAND_BREAK_REPAIR_VIA_HOMOLOGOUS_RECOMBINATION, GOBP_MALE_GAMETE_GENERATION, GOBP_REGULATION_OF_DNA_REPAIR, GOBP_SYNAPTONEMAL_COMPLEX_ORGANIZATION, GOBP_NEGATIVE_REGULATION_OF_GENE_EXPRESSION_EPIGENETIC, GOBP_DNA_METHYLATION_DEPENDENT_CONSTITUTIVE_HETEROCHROMATIN_FORMATION, GOBP_ORGANELLE_FISSION, GOBP_REGULATION_OF_RESPONSE_TO_STRESS, WEBER_METHYLATED_LCP_IN_FIBROBLAST_DN

GO Biological Process (12): DNA repair (GO:0006281), DNA methylation-dependent constitutive heterochromatin formation (GO:0006346), synaptonemal complex assembly (GO:0007130), male meiotic nuclear division (GO:0007140), spermatogenesis (GO:0007283), transposable element silencing (GO:0010526), regulation of double-strand break repair via homologous recombination (GO:0010569), cell differentiation (GO:0030154), regulatory ncRNA-mediated gene silencing (GO:0031047), DNA damage response (GO:0006974), homologous chromosome pairing at meiosis (GO:0007129), meiotic cell cycle (GO:0051321)

GO Molecular Function (0):

GO Cellular Component (2): nucleus (GO:0005634), cytoplasm (GO:0005737)

Reactome top-level categories

Rollup of top-3 pathways:

CategoryPathways
Meiosis1
Reproduction1
Cell Cycle1

GO top-level categories

Rollup of top GO terms by namespace:

CategoryTerms
chromosome organization involved in meiotic cell cycle2
male gamete generation2
meiotic nuclear division2
negative regulation of gene expression2
DNA metabolic process1
DNA damage response1
constitutive heterochromatin formation1
homologous chromosome pairing at meiosis1
cellular component assembly1
synaptonemal complex organization1
meiotic cell cycle1
developmental process involved in reproduction1
retrotransposition1
regulation of DNA recombination1
double-strand break repair via homologous recombination1
regulation of double-strand break repair1
cellular developmental process1
cellular response to stress1
homologous chromosome segregation1
cell cycle1
sexual reproduction1
reproductive process1
intracellular membrane-bounded organelle1
intracellular anatomical structure1
cellular anatomical structure1

Protein interactions and networks

STRING

1408 interactions, top by confidence (×1000):

Protein AProtein BPartner UniProtScore
TEX15UBL4BQ8N7F7927
TEX15SLC6A17Q9H1V8762
TEX15TEX11Q8IYF3728
TEX15MEIOBQ8N635653
TEX15ALX3O95076650
TEX15SYCE1Q8N0S2603
TEX15UBL4AP11441591
TEX15TEX12Q9BXU0558
TEX15MEI1Q5TIA1555
TEX15SPO11Q9Y5K1551
TEX15ZMYND15Q9H091546
TEX15SPOCD1Q6ZMY3545
TEX15TEX14Q8IWB6540
TEX15PIWIL4Q7Z3Z4528
TEX15TDRKHQ9Y2W6527

IntAct

19 interactions, top by confidence:

ABTypeScore
SERPINC1BTDpsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.530
TEX15RPL19psi-mi:“MI:0915”(physical association)0.400
TEX15H2BC9psi-mi:“MI:0915”(physical association)0.400
TEX15GOLGA2psi-mi:“MI:0915”(physical association)0.400
COLQPLOD2psi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
ATF6BAK4psi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
Ppsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
Mpsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
LY6G5BPOTEFpsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
SCGB2A2RTL8Cpsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
SPOCK2VPS4Bpsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
LY6G5CITGAVpsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
SERPINC1HSPA5psi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
TRGV3MANBApsi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350
PTBP3psi-mi:“MI:0914”(association)0.350

BioGRID (25): TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Proximity Label-MS), TEX15 (Proximity Label-MS), TEX15 (Proximity Label-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS), TEX15 (Affinity Capture-MS)

ESM2 similar proteins: A0A140LI88, A4D1E1, D3Z987, D3ZUC6, E5FYH0, E5FYH1, E9Q3S4, F6ULY3, F7DF15, G3S077, G7H7V7, G7NY55, O35923, O54952, O88491, O95405, P38398, P48754, P51587, P97929, Q0VBV7, Q0VGT4, Q2M3C7, Q3V089, Q56UN5, Q5DTT3, Q5F2C3, Q5VWN6, Q61493, Q68DQ2, Q6J6I8, Q6J6I9, Q6J6J0, Q6NSW3, Q6ZP01, Q7TSY8, Q7Z570, Q80U44, Q864S8, Q864U1

Diamond homologs: F8VPN2, Q9BXT5

SIGNOR signaling

0 interactions.

Disease & clinical

Clinical variants and AI predictions

ClinVar

534 variants total. Per-class counts are floors (≥ shown; pagination cap):

ClassificationCount (floor)
Pathogenic7
Likely pathogenic15
Uncertain significance383
Likely benign82
Benign27

Top pathogenic / likely-pathogenic (22)

Variant IDHGVSClassification
1071185NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.6906_6907del (p.Arg2302fs)Pathogenic
1244247NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.8197_8198del (p.Glu2733fs)Pathogenic
190036NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.3279T>G (p.Tyr1093Ter)Pathogenic
523229NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.3568A>T (p.Lys1190Ter)Pathogenic
523230NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.4189del (p.Ser1397fs)Pathogenic
523231NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.8083C>T (p.Arg2695Ter)Pathogenic
835432NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.2574_2581del (p.Thr859fs)Pathogenic
2442295NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.6874_6877del (p.Ser2292fs)Likely pathogenic
2442299NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.6118T>G (p.Cys2040Gly)Likely pathogenic
3064769NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.2134C>T (p.Gln712Ter)Likely pathogenic
3234971NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.6869_6872del (p.Lys2290fs)Likely pathogenic
3350376NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.7504_7508del (p.Ser2502fs)Likely pathogenic
3780706NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.5854del (p.Ile1952fs)Likely pathogenic
3780707NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.8817del (p.Ile2940fs)Likely pathogenic
3892637NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.9084T>A (p.Tyr3028Ter)Likely pathogenic
3892639NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.4385_4386insGTGCTGGGATTACAGGCGTGAGCCACCGCGCCCGGCC (p.Ala1463fs)Likely pathogenic
3892640NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.4257_4266del (p.Cys1420fs)Likely pathogenic
3892641NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.3816_3817dup (p.Asp1273fs)Likely pathogenic
4077086NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.8755C>T (p.Gln2919Ter)Likely pathogenic
4077693NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.2734dup (p.Ile912fs)Likely pathogenic
4845718NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.4072_4073del (p.Lys1358fs)Likely pathogenic
4845775NM_001350162.2(TEX15):c.2580_2583del (p.Asp860fs)Likely pathogenic

SpliceAI

380 predictions. Top by Δscore:

VariantEffectΔscore
8:30839900:TCCTA:Tdonor_loss0.9900
8:30839901:CCTAC:Cdonor_loss0.9900
8:30839902:CTACC:Cdonor_loss0.9900
8:30839903:TACCT:Tdonor_loss0.9900
8:30839904:A:AGdonor_loss0.9900
8:30839961:CTAC:Cacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839962:TAC:Tacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839965:C:CCacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839967:G:GCacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839970:T:TCacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839971:T:Cacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839971:T:TCacceptor_gain0.9900
8:30839963:ACC:Aacceptor_loss0.9800
8:30839964:CC:Cacceptor_loss0.9800
8:30839967:G:Cacceptor_gain0.9800
8:30839969:G:Cacceptor_gain0.9700
8:30833324:C:CCacceptor_gain0.9500
8:30838082:A:Cacceptor_gain0.9500
8:30842000:ATAC:Adonor_loss0.9500
8:30842002:A:Cdonor_loss0.9500
8:30839964:CCTG:Cacceptor_gain0.9400
8:30839969:G:GCacceptor_gain0.9400
8:30839970:T:Cacceptor_gain0.9200
8:30842002:A:ACdonor_gain0.9200
8:30842003:C:CCdonor_gain0.9200
8:30838069:G:GCacceptor_gain0.9100
8:30838078:A:Cacceptor_gain0.9100
8:30833319:TGGAG:Tacceptor_gain0.9000
8:30833321:GAGC:Gacceptor_loss0.9000
8:30833322:AGCT:Aacceptor_loss0.9000

AlphaMissense

21228 scored. Top likely-pathogenic:

VariantProtein changeam_pathogenicity
8:30842794:A:GL2075P0.985
8:30842741:A:GW2093R0.980
8:30842741:A:TW2093R0.980
8:30842736:A:CF2094L0.977
8:30842736:A:TF2094L0.977
8:30842738:A:GF2094L0.977
8:30843777:G:CF1747L0.977
8:30843777:G:TF1747L0.977
8:30843779:A:GF1747L0.977
8:30842348:C:GG2224R0.970
8:30842348:C:TG2224R0.970
8:30842568:A:CN2150K0.970
8:30842568:A:TN2150K0.970
8:30842998:A:GL2007P0.970
8:30846076:A:GL981P0.968
8:30843864:G:CS1718R0.967
8:30843864:G:TS1718R0.967
8:30843866:T:GS1718R0.967
8:30843600:A:CF1806L0.963
8:30843600:A:TF1806L0.963
8:30843602:A:GF1806L0.963
8:30843655:C:GR1788P0.963
8:30842846:C:GA2058P0.961
8:30843912:G:CF1702L0.961
8:30843912:G:TF1702L0.961
8:30843914:A:GF1702L0.961
8:30843940:A:GL1693P0.960
8:30842752:C:GR2089P0.958
8:30843778:A:GF1747S0.957
8:30842713:A:GL2102P0.956

dbSNP variants (sampled 300 via entrez): RS1000000204 (8:30852902 G>C), RS1000039350 (8:30856485 C>T), RS1000089293 (8:30901354 T>C), RS1000100350 (8:30859252 ATAATT>A), RS1000110804 (8:30858129 A>G,T), RS1000193303 (8:30863076 G>C,T), RS1000201369 (8:30834734 T>C), RS1000250503 (8:30834524 G>A), RS1000252944 (8:30876648 T>C), RS1000308713 (8:30841277 A>T), RS1000309368 (8:30863446 G>A), RS1000316745 (8:30905617 T>A,G), RS1000322869 (8:30882938 A>G), RS1000350744 (8:30882529 G>C), RS1000355145 (8:30876701 C>T)

Disease associations

OMIM: gene MIM:605795 | disease phenotypes: MIM:617960, MIM:258150

GenCC curated gene-disease

DiseaseClassificationInheritance
male infertility with azoospermia or oligozoospermia due to single gene mutationSupportiveAutosomal dominant
spermatogenic failure 25LimitedUnknown

Mondo (4): spermatogenic failure 25 (MONDO:0054729), myoepithelial tumor (MONDO:0002380), spermatogenic failure 1 (MONDO:0009776), (MONDO:0018393)

Orphanet (1): Male infertility with azoospermia or oligozoospermia due to single gene mutation (Orphanet:399805)

HPO phenotypes

12 total (12 of 12 shown, HPO-id order):

HPOTerm
HP:0000007Autosomal recessive inheritance
HP:0000027Azoospermia
HP:0000118Phenotypic abnormality
HP:0000837Increased circulating gonadotropin level
HP:0003251Male infertility
HP:0008669Abnormal spermatogenesis
HP:0008734Decreased testicular size
HP:0011462Young adult onset
HP:0011961Non-obstructive azoospermia
HP:0011962Obstructive azoospermia
HP:0030974Cryptozoospermia
HP:0031039Spermatocyte maturation arrest

GWAS associations

1 associations (top):

StudyTraitp-value
GCST003518_18Daytime sleep phenotypes2.000000e-06

EFO canonical traits (1, from GWAS)

EFO IDTrait name
EFO:0007828daytime rest measurement

MeSH disease descriptors (2)

DescriptorNameTree numbers
D009208MyoepitheliomaC04.557.435.585
C562902Oligosynaptic Infertility (supp.)

Drugs & pharmacology

Drug and pharmacology data

Is drug target: no

PharmGKB: 1 entry (VIP=true, CPIC=false)

CTD chemical–gene interactions

25 total (human), top 25 by PubMed support.

ChemicalActions (top 5)PubMed papers
Valproic Aciddecreases methylation, affects cotreatment, increases expression, affects expression10
trichostatin Aincreases expression2
entinostatincreases expression, affects cotreatment2
Benzo(a)pyreneaffects methylation, decreases methylation, increases expression2
Phenylmercuric Acetateaffects cotreatment, decreases expression2
methylmercuric chloridedecreases expression1
lasiocarpineincreases expression1
sodium arseniteincreases expression1
CGP 52608affects binding, increases reaction1
4-(5-benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl-4-pyridin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzamideaffects cotreatment, increases expression, decreases expression1
abrinedecreases expression1
Grape Seed Proanthocyanidinsaffects cotreatment, decreases expression1
dorsomorphinaffects cotreatment, increases expression, decreases expression1
Vorinostatincreases expression1
Air Pollutantsdecreases expression, increases abundance1
Catechindecreases expression, affects cotreatment1
Diethylhexyl Phthalatedecreases expression1
Dinitrochlorobenzeneaffects binding1
Paraquatdecreases expression1
Tretinoindecreases expression1
Urethanedecreases expression1
Antirheumatic Agentsincreases expression1
Okadaic Acidincreases expression1
Acrylamidedecreases expression1
Particulate Matterdecreases expression, increases abundance1

Clinical trials (associated diseases)

5 trials via MONDO — disease-level, not drug-specific.

TrialPhaseStatusTitle
NCT03600649PHASE1UNKNOWNClinical Trial of SP-2577 (Seclidemstat) in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Ewing or Ewing-related Sarcomas
NCT05266196PHASE1/PHASE2UNKNOWNA Rollover Protocol to Allow for Continued Access to the LSD1 Inhibitor Seclidemstat (SP-2577)
NCT06239272PHASE1/PHASE2RECRUITINGNRSTS2021, A Risk Adapted Study Evaluating Maintenance Pazopanib, Limited Margin, Dose-Escalated Radiation Therapy and Selinexor in Non-Rhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcoma (NRSTS)
NCT06625190PHASE1/PHASE2RECRUITINGAlpha/Beta T and B Cell Depletion With Zoledronic Acid for Solid Tumors
NCT06244420Not specifiedCOMPLETEDMalignant Myoepithelioma of Bone and Soft Tissues: Diagnostic Imaging and Histology in Relation to Prognosis