This gene belongs to the VCX/Y gene family, which has
multiple members on both X and Y chromosomes, and all are expressed
exclusively in male germ cells. The X-linked members are clustered
on chromosome Xp22 and Y-linked members are two identical copies of
the gene within a palindromic region on Yq11. The family members
share a high degree of sequence identity, with the exception that a
30-bp unit is tandemly repeated in X-linked members but occurs only
once in Y-linked members. The VCX gene cluster is polymorphic in
terms of copy number; different individuals may have a different
number of VCX genes. VCX/Y genes encode small and highly charged
proteins of unknown function. The presence of a putative bipartite
nuclear localization signal suggests that VCX/Y members are nuclear
proteins. This gene contains 8 repeats of the 30-bp unit. [provided
by RefSeq].
