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Sperm protein 17 is expressed in the sperm fibrous sheath

Maurizio Chiriva-Internati1, Nicoletta Gagliano, Elena Donetti

  • 1Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock, TX, USA. maurizio.chiriva@ttuhsc.edu

Journal of Translational Medicine
|July 17, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is found in human sperm and various tissues, including cancer cells. This study reveals Sp17

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a conserved mammalian protein found in testes and spermatozoa.
  • Sp17 mRNA is detected in various human and murine somatic tissues, myeloma cell lines, and neoplastic cells from ovarian carcinoma and multiple myeloma.
  • Sp17 exhibits wide distribution, present in germinal, somatic, and neoplastic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ultrastructural localization of human Sp17 in spermatozoa.
  • To determine the presence of Sp17 in spermatozoa during in vitro processes from ejaculation to fertilization.

Main Methods:

  • Immunocytochemistry was employed to analyze Sp17 expression in spermatozoa.
  • Transmission electron microscopy was used for ultrastructural localization studies on spermatozoa.

Main Results:

  • Human Sp17 was localized to the fibrous sheath of the sperm flagellum.
  • Sp17 was detected in spermatozoa throughout in vitro states, from ejaculation to oocyte fertilization.

Conclusions:

  • Sp17 may regulate sperm maturation, capacitation, acrosomal reaction, and oocyte interactions during fertilization.
  • The conserved N-terminal region with an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP)-binding motif suggests Sp17's regulatory role in AKAP complexes in germinal and somatic cells.

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