Researchers clone key sperm-binding proteins
March 17, 2009 – New treatments for infertility could be closer to reality, thanks to a discovery from Dr. Manjunath’s research team. According to a study published in the journal Molecular Human Reproduction, the researchers have become the first to clone, produce and purify a protein important for sperm maturation, termed Binder of Sperm (BSP), which may have implications for both fertility treatments and new methods of male contraception.
“We have previously isolated and characterized BSPs from many species, such as bulls and boars, says Dr. Puttaswamy Manjunath, senior author. We know from these studies that if this protein is missing or defective in these species, fertility is compromised. We believe that BSP is equally important in humans.”
In most mammals, these proteins are typically produced by the seminal vesicles and added to sperm at ejaculation. Yet this is not the case for humans. In an article published in 2007 in the same journal, Dr. Manjunath and his team explained that humans produce small amounts of BSPs only in the epididymis, a duct that connects the testes to the urethra.
“The minute quantities of BSP produced in humans has made it impossible to isolate and characterize”, says Dr. Manjunath. That’s why they decided to go back to the basics. Using molecular biology technique they cloned the gene that encodes human BSP. Through cloning, they were able to produce and purify this protein. The next steps are to confirm the protein’s biological role in human fertility.
About the study:
The article, "Recombinant expression and affinity purification of a novel epididymal human sperm-binding proteins, BSPH1” was authored by Jasmine Lefebvre, Guy Boileau and Puttaswamy Manjunath.