THE GREAT GENE AND PROTEIN

摘要

The present invention is directed to a G protein-coupled receptor that is necessary for normal testicular descent during embryonic development. Mutations in this receptor lead to cryptorchidism. In addition to the receptor and genes encoding the receptor, the invention includes assays for mutations in the receptor gene, binding assays which utilize the receptor and transgenic animals which have been engineered to have non-functional receptor alleles. The animals may be used in assays designed to identify agents useful in treating cryptorchidism.