The murine septin4 gene (Sept4) has been implicated in diverse cellular functions, including cytokinesis, apoptosis, and tumor suppression. Here, we investigated the function of Sept4 proteins during mouse development by creating a targeted deletion of the Sept4 genomic locus. Sept4 mutant mice are viable but male sterile due to immotile and structurally defective sperm. During spermatogenesis,...

X-linked genes can evolve slower or faster depending on whether most recessive, or at least partially recessive alleles are deleterious or beneficial due to their hemizygous expression in males. Molecular studies of X chromosome divergence have provided conflicting evidence for both a higher and lower rate of nucleotide substitution at both synonymous and nonsynonymous sites, depending on the n...

Oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major cause of sperm dysfunction. Excessive ROS generation reduces fertilization and enhances DNA damage of spermatozoa. Interaction between spermatozoa and oviductal epithelial cells improves the fertilizing ability of and reduces chromatin damage in spermatozoa. Our previous data showed that oviductal epithelial cell membrane proteins int...

Fertilization is the cornerstone of development where the two differentiated cells, sperm and egg set the stage for embryogenesis, for which competency of the gametes is essential. Yet only rudimentary knowledge is available on the molecules and mechanisms involved in sperm-egg interactions leading to zygotic development. This is underscored in consideration that 30-50 % of male-factor infertil...

Infertility is a growing concern in modern society, with 30% of cases being due to male factors, namely reduced sperm concentration, decreased motility and abnormal morphology. Sperm cells are highly compartmentalized, almost devoid of transcription and translation consequently processes such as protein phosphorylation provide a key general mechanism for regulating vital cellular functions, mor...

The members of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family are membrane-anchored multi-domain proteins that play prominent roles in male reproduction. ADAM2, which was one of the first identified ADAMs, is the best studied ADAM in reproduction. In the male germ cells of mice, ADAM2 and other ADAMs form complexes that contribute to sperm-sperm adhesion, sperm-egg interactions, and the mi...