Fertility: key protein helps sperm to complete work in time

The first process is called capacitation.

The second process is the acrosome reaction (AR), which is a chemical reaction that involves the release of enzymes on the head of the sperm to further promote the penetration of the zona pellucida

Both processes are critical to the successful fertilization of the egg, and AR depends on time: it cannot happen too early or too late

However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these two processes are not well understood

Specifically, the research team led by senior author Pradipta Ghosh, Ph.

Ghosh said: "These findings demonstrate how GIV coordinates different signaling programs in sperm.

According to published studies, infertility affects approximately 8% to 12% of couples worldwide, and in approximately half of the cases, males are the main or contributing factor

Ghosh said: "GIV is necessary for male fertility, and low levels of GIV transcripts in men must be related to infertility

"Ironically, the latter may be a promising strategy for developing male contraceptives specifically targeting sperm

Co-authors include: Sequoyah Reynoso, Vanessa Castillo, Gajanan D.

Journal Reference :

1. Sequoyah Reynoso, Vanessa Castillo, Gajanan Dattatray Katkar, Inmaculada Lopez-Sanchez, Sahar Taheri, Celia Espinoza, Cristina Rohena, Debashis Sahoo, Pascal Gagneux, Pradipta Ghosh.