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Female sterility in mice lacking the basigin gene, which encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily
Author(s) -
Kuno Naohiko,
Kadomatsu Kenji,
Fan Qi-Wen,
Hagihara Masako,
Senda Takao,
Mizutani Shigehiko,
Muramatsu Takashi
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(98)00213-0
Subject(s) - basigin , immunoglobulin superfamily , transmembrane protein , sterility , biology , glycoprotein , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , receptor , matrix metalloproteinase
Basigin (Bsg) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Bsg knock‐out mice exhibit infertility of both sexes. Based on limited results, defective implantation has been considered to be the cause of the female infertility. We demonstrate here that disruption of the Bsg gene produces the failure of female reproductive processes including not only implantation but also fertilization. Bsg mRNA expression in cumulus cells and basolateral localization of the Bsg protein in the endometrial epithelium further support the importance of Bsg in these processes.