Pem gene is one of the homeobox gene. Unlike members of Hox gene family, Pem gene is unique located at the proximal end of the X chromosome and its expression has been detected in several immortalized and transformed cells, placenta, embryos and reproductive tissues. Numeral studies showed that its expression is controlled by hormone such as androgen. This review discussed the possible role of Pem in regulating genes involved in the differentiation and development of extraembryonic tissue, spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.
Prosaposin is a multifunctional protein that is the precursor of four lysosomal activator proteins knownas saposin when located in the lysosome and is an integral membrane protein when secreted.Despite of its function duringsphingolipid catabolism,prosaposin also plays an important role in reproductive system,nervous system and the develop-ment of prostate cancer.
Prosaposin （Psap） has multiple cellular functions. It is involved in the development of the reproductive system, nervous system, and prostate cancer as well as in the regulation of sphingolipid catabolism by activating several lysosomal hydrolases involved in the metabolism of various sphingolipids. In this research, it was found to be a novel interaction partner for Rhox5 using yeast two-hybrid screening. The interaction between Rhox5 and the full-length prosapsoin （the transcript without exon 8） as well as the C-terminal domain of prosaposin, was further confirmed in both yeast two hybrid analysis and in vitro assay. It suggested that the C-terminal domain of prosaposin may be critical for the Rhox5-prosaposin interaction. Given the important roles played by both Rhox5 and prosaposin in maintaining the differentiation of male reproductive organs, spermatogenesis, and fertilization, the interaction between Rhox5 and prosaposin might regulate the development of male reproductive organs dynamically.
