A portion of amino acids 220-461 was used as the immunogen for the SF-1 antibody.
The protein encoded by this gene is a transcriptional activator involved in sex determination. The encoded protein binds DNA as a monomer. Defects in this gene are a cause of XY sex reversal with or without adrenal failure as well as adrenocortical insufficiency without ovarian defect. Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1) is considered an orphan nuclear receptor that belongs to subfamily 5. It was found to be a regulator of steroidogenic enzyme gene expression. Oxysterols are suggested as its ligands. It is expressed in all steroidogenic tissues, including the adrenal cortex, testicular Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, ovarian theca, hypothalamus, and anterior pituitary. SF-1 plays an important role in adrenal and gonadal development. SF-1 is highly valuable marker to determine the adrenocortical origin of an adrenal mass.
