Dazl - deleted in azoospermia-like

This gene encodes a member of the depleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL) protein family. Members of this family contain an RNA recognition motif, interact with poly A binding proteins, and may be involved in the initiation of translation. The encoded protein is expressed in the cytoplasm of pluripotent stem cells, and in both male and female germ cells, where it is essential for gametogenesis. Disruption of this gene is associated with infertility. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2013]