Male infertility and contraception treatments have been a cause of great concern amongst our society however new options are closer than you might think. Scientists at the University of Montreal and Maisonneuve-Rosemount Hospital have recently isolated, cloned, produced and purified the first human protein complex which is essential for sperm maturation. These proteins are called Binder of Sperm Protein (BSP) which are secreted by the seminal vesicle and are responsible for maturation of sperm in the female reproductive tract by redistributing surface proteins.Previous research on species such as bulls and boars have shown that a defect or absence in this gene that encodes the BSP has inhibitory effects on fertility, however this recent research suggest these proteins are encoded in the human genome and play out a similar role. They have been able to identify a BSP-homolgous DNA sequence in the human genome (BSPH1).
Researches isolated the gene from a human genome and through cloning were able to produce a functional BSP human protein. Scientists expressed this gene as a recombinant tagged protein in E. coli bacterial cells. The resulting protein production was expressed as a His6-thioredoxin-tagged protein which enabled a soluble and active yield. Other protein tags that were tested disrupted the function and properties of the BSPH1 protein. The similar binding properties of this human protein when cross referenced with other mammalian species suggest that the BSP functions are analogous in human sperm maturation.
Further purification and increased production of the BSPH1 proteins will allow further research to determine the complete role these play in the human reproductive cycle and hence aid the development of alternative infertility and contraception methods.
Link to full article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090317113816.htm
REFERENCE:
University of Montreal. (2009, March 18). Key Sperm-Binding Proteins Cloned. ScienceDaily retrieved May 9 2009 from,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090317113816.htm
Research Centre of Maisonneuve-Rosemount Hospital. (2008, Dec 17). Recombinant expression and purification of a novel epididymal human sperm protein BSPH1. Retrieved May 9 2009 from, http://molehr.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/2/105
