Sex determining region Y (SRY)

The official name of this gene is “sex determining region Y.”

SRY is the gene's official symbol. The SRY gene is also known by other names, listed below.

What is the normal function of the SRY gene?

The SRY gene provides instructions for making a transcription factor called the sex-determining region Y protein. A transcription factor is a protein that attaches (binds) to specific regions of DNA and helps control the activity of particular genes. The sex-determining region Y protein causes a fetus to develop as a male.

People normally have 46 chromosomes in each cell. Two of the 46 chromosomes, known as X and Y, are called sex chromosomes because they help determine whether a person will develop male or female sex characteristics. Females have two X chromosomes (46,XX), and males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (46,XY). The SRY gene is located on the Y chromosome.

How are changes in the SRY gene related to health conditions?

Swyer syndrome - caused by mutations in the SRY gene

Mutations in the SRY gene have been identified in between 15 percent and 20 percent of individuals with Swyer syndrome, also known as 46,XY complete or pure gonadal dysgenesis. SRY mutations that cause Swyer syndrome prevent production of the sex-determining region Y protein or result in the production of a nonfunctioning protein. A fetus whose cells do not produce functional sex-determining region Y protein will develop as a female despite having a Y chromosome.

46,XX testicular disorder of sex development - associated with the SRY gene

In most individuals with 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development, the condition results from an abnormal exchange of genetic material between chromosomes (translocation). This exchange occurs as a random event during the formation of sperm cells in the affected person's father. The SRY gene is misplaced in this disorder, almost always onto an X chromosome. A fetus with an X chromosome that carries the SRY gene will develop male characteristics despite not having a Y chromosome.

other disorders - associated with the SRY gene

SRY mutations that impair but do not eliminate the function of the sex-determining region Y protein have been identified in a small number of people with 46,XY disorder of sex development, or partial gonadal dysgenesis. Affected individuals may have external genitalia that do not look clearly male or clearly female (ambiguous genitalia) or other abnormalities of the genitals and reproductive organs.

About 10 percent of individuals who have both testicular and ovarian tissue, a condition called ovotesticular disorder of sex development, have two X chromosomes with one carrying the SRY gene.

Where is the SRY gene located?

Cytogenetic Location: Yp11.3

Molecular Location on the Y chromosome: base pairs 2,714,895 to 2,715,791

The SRY gene is located on the short (p) arm of the Y chromosome at position 11.3.

More precisely, the SRY gene is located from base pair 2,714,895 to base pair 2,715,791 on the Y chromosome.

What other names do people use for the SRY gene or gene products?

• essential protein for sex determination in human males
• sex-determining region on Y
• sex determining region protein
• SRY_HUMAN
• TDF
• TDY
• testis-determining factor

External Links

Where can I find additional information about SRY?

You and your healthcare professional may find the following resources about SRY helpful.

• Educational resources - Information pages
• Developmental Biology (sixth edition, 2000): Chromosomal Sex Determination in Mammals (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=dbio.section.4106)
• Gene Reviews - Clinical summary

• Gene Review: 46, XX testicular disorder of sex development (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=xxms)
• Gene Review: 46, XY disorder of sex development and 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=gonad-dys-46xy)

• Gene Tests - DNA tests ordered by healthcare professionals

• Gene Tests: 46, XX testicular disorder of sex development (http://www.genetests.org/query?testid=193550)
• Gene Tests: SRY-related 46,XY DSD and 46,XY CGD (http://www.genetests.org/query?testid=3218)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for genetics professionals and researchers.

• PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=PubMed&term=((SRY[TI])+OR+(sex+determining+region+Y[TI]))+AND+((Genes[MH])+OR+(Genetic+Phenomena[MH]))+AND+english[la]+AND+human[mh]&orig_db=PubMed&filters=ON&pmfilter_EDatLimit=1080+Days)
• OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog

• OMIM: Gonadal dysgenesis, XY female type (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=306100)
• OMIM: SRY (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=480000)
• OMIM: True hermaphroditism (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=235600)
• OMIM: XX male syndrome (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=278850)

• Research Resources - Tools for researchers

• Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology (http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Genes/GC_SRY.html)
• Entrez Gene (http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6736)
• GeneCards (http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=SRY)
• HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (http://www.genenames.org/data/hgnc_data.php?hgnc_id=11311)

See How do geneticists indicate the location of a gene? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/genelocation) in the Handbook.

See How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.

What glossary definitions help with understanding SRY?

cell ; chromosome ; DNA ; dysgenesis ; fetus ; gene ; genitalia ; genitals ; hermaphrodite ; mutation ; ovarian ; protein ; sex chromosomes ; sex determination ; sperm ; syndrome ; testis ; tissue ; transcription ; transcription factor ; translocation

References

• Assumpção JG, Benedetti CE, Maciel-Guerra AT, Guerra G Jr, Baptista MT, Scolfaro MR, de Mello MP. Novel mutations affecting SRY DNA-binding activity: the HMG box N65H associated with 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis and the familial non-HMG box R30I associated with variable phenotypes. J Mol Med. 2002 Dec;80(12):782-90. Epub 2002 Oct 1. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12483463)
• Entrez Gene (http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6736)
• Gimelli G, Gimelli S, Dimasi N, Bocciardi R, Di Battista E, Pramparo T, Zuffardi O. Identification and molecular modelling of a novel familial mutation in the SRY gene implicated in the pure gonadal dysgenesis. Eur J Hum Genet. 2007 Jan;15(1):76-80. Epub 2006 Oct 25. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17063144)
• Kellermayer R, Halvax L, Czakó M, Shahid M, Dhillon VS, Husain SA, Süle N, Gömöri E, Mammel M, Kosztolányi G. A novel frame shift mutation in the HMG box of the SRY gene in a patient with complete 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis. Diagn Mol Pathol. 2005 Sep;14(3):159-63. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16106197)
• OMIM: SRY (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=480000)
• Phillips NB, Jancso-Radek A, Ittah V, Singh R, Chan G, Haas E, Weiss MA. SRY and human sex determination: the basic tail of the HMG box functions as a kinetic clamp to augment DNA bending. J Mol Biol. 2006 Apr 21;358(1):172-92. Epub 2006 Feb 6. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16504207)
• Queralt R, Madrigal I, Vallecillos MA, Morales C, Ballescá JL, Oliva R, Soler A, Sánchez A, Margarit E. Atypical XX male with the SRY gene located at the long arm of chromosome 1 and a 1qter microdeletion. Am J Med Genet A. 2008 May 15;146A(10):1335-40. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18412126)
• Rizvi AA. 46, XX man with SRY gene translocation: cytogenetic characteristics, clinical features and management. Am J Med Sci. 2008 Apr;335(4):307-9. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18414071)
• Shahid M, Dhillion VS, Jain N, Hedau S, Diwakar S, Sachdeva P, Batra S, Das BC, Husain SA. Two new novel point mutations localized upstream and downstream of the HMG box region of the SRY gene in three Indian 46,XY females with sex reversal and gonadal tumour formation. Mol Hum Reprod. 2004 Jul;10(7):521-6. Epub 2004 May 21. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15155818)
• Waters PD, Wallis MC, Marshall Graves JA. Mammalian sex--Origin and evolution of the Y chromosome and SRY. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2007 Jun;18(3):389-400. Epub 2007 Feb 24. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17400006)