TOPAZ1 is a germ cell specific protein highly conserved in vertebrates []. It is essential for male meiotic progression []. TOPAZ1 is an abbreviation for testis and ovary-specific PAZ domain-containing protein 1, although TOPAZ1 does not contain a PAZ domain.
This domain is found in protein TOPAZ1, which may play an important role in germ cell development []. Homology suggests that it is a putative aspartate racemase.Protein TOPAZ1 was previously called testis and ovary-specific PAZ domain-containing protein 1 [], but the name was changed to Protein TOPAZ1 as it does not contain a PAZ domain.