A candidate gene family for the mouse t complex responder (Tcr) locus responsible for haploid effects on sperm function.

The mouse t complex responder (Tcr) locus plays a central haploid-specific role in the transmission ratio distortion phenotype expressed during germ cell differentiation in t-carrying males. The accumulated data map Tcr to a region of less than 500 kb. Over 400 kb of this region has been cloned and consists entirely of sequences associated with a clustered family of large cross-hybridizing elements of 30 kb to 70 kb in size. We have characterized a gene family within this region that is expressed uniquely in male germ cells with a complex pattern of RNA processing. Antibodies produced against a product of the putative open reading frame recognize a testes-specific polypeptide. Genetic data support the hypothesis that this polypeptide(s) functions to effect the Tcr phenotype.