A recent study conducted by researchers from Hong Kong and CAS scientists has revealed the first secret of sperm maturation.
As reported recently by
Nature Cell Biology , the study has revealed that Bin1b, a Beta-defensin gene found in the head region of the epididymis can bind to sperm head and induce progressive sperm motility in originally immotile immature sperm.
The investigation of the role of the novel epididymis-specific gene, Bin1b, is a collaborative project of the Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) with a research team headed by Prof. Zhang Yonglian from the CAS Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
According to Professor Chan Hsiao-Chang, Director of the CUHK's research center, progressive movement of sperm is one of the fundamental changes associated with early process of sperm maturation. Thus, -defensin is the first molecule found in the epididymis that is involved in the initiation of sperm maturation.
This finding could be used as a biomarker for diagnosis of maleinfertility or for treatment and may lead to new researches. The findings also provide grounds for development of new contraceptive strategies, Chan said.
Studies on the detailed mechanisms how Bin1b interacts with sperm membrane proteins are already in the pipelines and plans to examine Bin1b expression in infertile patients are also in place, said Chan.
