The germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF), also known as RTR (retinoid receptor-related testis-associated receptor) or NR6A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 6, group A, member 1), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NR6A1 gene.^[5][6] GCNF is a member of the nuclear receptor family of intracellular transcription factors .

Quick Facts NR6A1, Identifiers ...

NR6A1
Identifiers
Aliases	NR6A1, CT150, GCNF, GCNF1, NR61, RTR, hGCNF, hRTR, nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1
External IDs	OMIM: 602778; MGI: 1352459; HomoloGene: 36308; GeneCards: NR6A1; OMA:NR6A1 - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 9 (human)[1] Band 9q33.3 Start 124,517,275 bp[1] End 124,771,311 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 2 (mouse)[2] Band 2|2 B Start 38,613,382 bp[2] End 38,817,700 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in testicle gonad oocyte secondary oocyte buccal mucosa cell right testis left testis sperm left lobe of thyroid gland right lobe of thyroid gland Top expressed in primitive streak spermatid seminiferous tubule secondary oocyte spermatocyte yolk sac submandibular gland urethra female urethra male urethra More reference expression data BioGPS More reference expression data
Gene ontology Molecular function DNA binding sequence-specific DNA binding protein homodimerization activity DNA-binding transcription factor activity zinc ion binding DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific metal ion binding steroid hormone receptor activity nuclear receptor activity RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific Cellular component nucleoplasm nucleus transcription regulator complex Biological process regulation of transcription, DNA-templated negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II transcription, DNA-templated gamete generation spermatogenesis transcription initiation from RNA polymerase II promoter cell population proliferation positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II intracellular steroid hormone receptor signaling pathway intracellular receptor signaling pathway steroid hormone mediated signaling pathway transcription by RNA polymerase II Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 2649 14536 Ensembl ENSG00000148200 ENSMUSG00000063972 UniProt Q15406 Q64249 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001278546 NM_001489 NM_033334 NM_033335 NM_001159548 NM_001159549 NM_010264 RefSeq (protein) NP_001265475 NP_001480 NP_201591 NP_201591.2 NP_001153020 NP_001153021 NP_034394 Location (UCSC) Chr 9: 124.52 – 124.77 Mb Chr 2: 38.61 – 38.82 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
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In adults, GCNH is expressed mainly in the germ cells of gonads and is involved in the regulation of embryogenesis and germ cell differentiation.^[7]

Its expression pattern suggests that it may be involved in neurogenesis and germ cell development. The protein can homodimerize and bind DNA, but in vivo targets have not been identified. The gene expresses three alternatively spliced transcript variants.^[8]

In cells undergoing homologous recombination during meiosis, DNA intermediates are processed as an essential step in the exchange of information between parental homologous chromosomes. In eukaryotes the RTR complex, which consists of a type IA topoisomerase, a RecQ helicase and the structural protein RMI1, is employed in processing DNA recombination intermediates.^[9]