Sex-determining region Y protein

SRY
Available structures
PDB	Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB
List of PDB id codes
	1HRY, 1HRZ, 1J46, 1J47, 2GZK
Identifiers
Aliases	SRY, SRXX1, SRXY1, TDF, TDY, Testis determining factor, sex determining region Y, Sex-determining region of Y-chromosome, Sex-determining region Y
External IDs	OMIM: 480000; MGI: 98660; HomoloGene: 48168; GeneCards: SRY; OMA:SRY - orthologs
Gene location (Human)
Chr.	Y chromosome (human)
End	2,787,682 bp
Gene location (Mouse)
Chr.	Y chromosome (mouse)
End	2,663,658 bp
RNA expression pattern
	Top expressed in
	gonad; ; tendon of biceps brachii; ; right testis; ; left testis; ; skin of abdomen; ; islet of Langerhans; ; Achilles tendon; ; skin of leg; ; ventricular zone; ; right adrenal cortex;
	Top expressed in
	ankle joint; ; ascending aorta; ; aortic valve; ; epithelium of small intestine; ; cumulus cell; ; Ileal epithelium; ; supraoptic nucleus; ; salivary gland; ; condyle; ; lacrimal gland;
	More reference expression data
	More reference expression data
Gene ontology
Molecular function	DNA-binding transcription factor activity; transcription factor binding; calmodulin binding; transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II distal enhancer sequence-specific binding; DNA binding; DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific; protein binding; DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific;
Cellular component	cytoplasm; nuclear speck; nucleoplasm; nucleus;
Biological process	cell differentiation; regulation of transcription, DNA-templated; sex differentiation; transcription, DNA-templated; positive regulation of transcription, DNA-templated; positive regulation of male gonad development; male sex determination; regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II; negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II; positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II; central nervous system development; positive regulation of gene expression; neuron differentiation;
	Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs
	6736
	21674
	ENSG00000184895
	ENSMUSG00000069036
	Q05066
	Q05738
	NM_003140
	NM_011564
	NP_003131
	NP_035694
	Wikidata
View/Edit Human	View/Edit Mouse

Sex-determining region Y protein (SRY), or testis-determining factor (TDF), is a DNA-binding protein (also known as gene-regulatory protein/transcription factor) encoded by the SRY gene that is responsible for the initiation of male sex determination in therian mammals (placentals and marsupials).^[5] SRY is an intronless sex-determining gene on the Y chromosome.^[6] Mutations in this gene lead to a range of disorders of sex development with varying effects on an individual's phenotype and genotype.

SRY is a member of the SOX (SRY-like box) gene family of DNA-binding proteins. When complexed with the steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) protein, SRY acts as a transcription factor that causes upregulation of other transcription factors, most importantly SOX9.^[7] Its expression causes the development of primary sex cords, which later develop into seminiferous tubules. These cords form in the central part of the yet-undifferentiated gonad, turning it into a testis. The now-induced Leydig cells of the testis then start secreting testosterone, while the Sertoli cells produce anti-Müllerian hormone.^[8] Effects of the SRY gene, which normally take place 6–8 weeks after fetus formation, inhibit the growth of female anatomical structural in males. The gene also contributes towards developing the secondary sexual characteristics of males.^[9]

^ ^a ^b ^c GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000184895 – Ensembl, May 2017
^ ^a ^b ^c GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000069036 – Ensembl, May 2017
^ "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^ "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^ Berta P, Hawkins JR, Sinclair AH, Taylor A, Griffiths BL, Goodfellow PN, et al. (November 1990). "Genetic evidence equating SRY and the testis-determining factor". Nature. 348 (6300): 448–50. Bibcode:1990Natur.348..448B. doi:10.1038/348448A0. PMID 2247149. S2CID 3336314.
^ Wallis MC, Waters PD, Graves JA (October 2008). "Sex determination in mammals--before and after the evolution of SRY". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 65 (20): 3182–95. doi:10.1007/s00018-008-8109-z. PMC 11131626. PMID 18581056. S2CID 31675679.
^ Cite error: The named reference Kashimada_Koopman_2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Mittwoch U (October 1988). "The race to be male". New Scientist. 120 (1635): 38–42.
^ Burrows B (25 March 2025). "World Athletics to introduce cheek swabbing tests for gender eligibility, Sebastian Coe says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 March 2025.

[refGRCh38Ensembl-1] GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000184895 – Ensembl, May 2017

[refGRCm38Ensembl-2] GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000069036 – Ensembl, May 2017

[3] "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[4] "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

[Berta-5] Berta P, Hawkins JR, Sinclair AH, Taylor A, Griffiths BL, Goodfellow PN, et al. (November 1990). "Genetic evidence equating SRY and the testis-determining factor". Nature. 348 (6300): 448–50. Bibcode:1990Natur.348..448B. doi:10.1038/348448A0. PMID 2247149. S2CID 3336314.

[pmid18581056-6] Wallis MC, Waters PD, Graves JA (October 2008). "Sex determination in mammals--before and after the evolution of SRY". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 65 (20): 3182–95. doi:10.1007/s00018-008-8109-z. PMC 11131626. PMID 18581056. S2CID 31675679.

[Kashimada_Koopman_2010-7] Cite error: The named reference Kashimada_Koopman_2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Mittwoch_1988-8] Mittwoch U (October 1988). "The race to be male". New Scientist. 120 (1635): 38–42.

[:"ny"-9] Burrows B (25 March 2025). "World Athletics to introduce cheek swabbing tests for gender eligibility, Sebastian Coe says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 March 2025.

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