Temporally regulated transcription and translation of several testis-specific genes is required to initiate the series of molecular and morphological changes in the male germ cell lineage necessary for the formation of mature spermatozoa. This gene is a member of the SPANX family, which is located in a gene cluster on chromosome X. The SPANX genes encode differentially expressed testis-specific proteins that localize to various subcellular compartments. This particular gene encodes a protein that localizes to the nucleus and is expressed in highly metastatic cell lines, making the protein a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker. The protein belongs to a family of cancer/testis antigens and represents a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].