Sequence of mRNA coding for bindin, a species-specific sea urchin sperm protein required for fertilization

Bindin, a major protein of the sea urchin acrosome granule, mediates the species-specific adhesion and binding of sperm to egg required to effect fertilization. We report the isolation and sequence of bindin cDNA clones prepared from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus testis RNA. The bindin gene appears to be productively expressed only in males and only in testes. The protein is produced from a 51-kDa precursor, which is subsequently processed to yield the mature 24-kDa bindin protein.