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Initial evaluation of fertilin as an immunocontraceptive antigen and molecular cloning of the cynomolgus monkey fertilin β subunit
Author(s) -
Ramarao Chodavarapu S.,
Myles Diana G.,
White Judith M.,
Primakoff Paul
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(199601)43:1<70::aid-mrd9>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - biology , protein subunit , cloning (programming) , molecular cloning , antigen , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , immunology , genetics , gene , complementary dna , computer science , programming language
Fertilin (PH‐30) is a sperm surface protein that functions in sperm adhesion and fusion with the egg plasma membrane. Because of its essential function in fertilization, fertilin is a potential target for novel contraceptive approaches. In a pilot fertility trial, immunization of male guinea pigs with purified guinea pig fertilin resulted in complete infertility. The contraceptive effect was partial (two out of six animals were infertile) when female guinea pigs were immunized with the antigen. These results suggest that fertilin or domains of fertilin may be effective as immunocontraceptive antigens. As a step toward achieving this goal, we communicate the cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the monkey fertilin β subunit. © 1996 Wiley Liss, Inc.