Spermatogenesis associated 42 (SPATA42)

SPATA42, spermatogenesis associated 42, is a human gene that encodes a long non-coding RNA lacking an open reading frame for a protein product. Unlike canonical therapeutic targets such as receptors or enzymes, SPATA42 is not a protein and has no established role as a direct drug target. Its primary biological implication arises from emerging studies showing that its transcript, as part of a panel of extracellular vesicle lncRNAs in seminal plasma, may provide diagnostic value for identifying the presence of testicular spermatozoa in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. There is no known involvement with interacting drugs, documented mechanism of action for drugs, or notable safety concerns relevant to this locus. The abundance of aliases and some confusion in the literature with similarly named genes (such as SPATA2 or SPATA4) underscore the importance of precise nomenclature; the correct canonical assignment is “Spermatogenesis associated 42,” abbreviated SPATA42, specifically referring to the non-protein coding long non-coding RNA. Notable issues: - Some sources conflate or confuse SPATA42 with SPATA2 or SPATA4, which are protein-coding genes with more clearly defined biological functions and disease relevance. The target in this query is explicitly **not protein-coding**; any roles inferred from protein-coding “SPATA” genes do not apply here. - No evidence supports SPATA42 as a conventional pharmacological target (receptor, enzyme, etc.); it is currently best classified as a non-coding RNA biomarker candidate rather than a therapeutic target.

Other names

SRG7AKNAD1-AS1spermatogenesis-related gene 7AKNAD1 antisense RNA 1spermatogenesis associated 42 (non-protein coding)spermatogenesis-related protein 7SPATA42