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The immunoglobulin superfamily protein Izumo is required for sperm to fuse with eggs

Author

Listed:
  • Naokazu Inoue

    (Genome Information Research Center)

  • Masahito Ikawa

    (Research Institute for Microbial Diseases)

  • Ayako Isotani

    (Genome Information Research Center
    Osaka University)

  • Masaru Okabe

    (Genome Information Research Center
    Research Institute for Microbial Diseases
    Osaka University)

Abstract

Fertilization: joint effort The molecular events that enable the mammalian sperm and egg to recognize each other and then form an embryo are gradually being revealed. A molecule on the egg membrane, integrin-associated protein CD9, was recently found to be essential for fusion and now the first sperm-related fusion factor has been identified in mice. The molecule is an immunoglobulin, and was found on the NCBI database. Named Izumo (a reference to Izumo Taisha, a Japanese marriage shrine), the protein is also present in human sperm, where anti-Izumo antibodies prevent sperm–egg fusion. As more of the molecules involved in fusion become known, new forms of contraception and treatments for infertility may become possible.

Suggested Citation

  • Naokazu Inoue & Masahito Ikawa & Ayako Isotani & Masaru Okabe, 2005. "The immunoglobulin superfamily protein Izumo is required for sperm to fuse with eggs," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7030), pages 234-238, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7030:d:10.1038_nature03362
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03362
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    Cited by:

    1. Krista R. B. Gert & Karin Panser & Joachim Surm & Benjamin S. Steinmetz & Alexander Schleiffer & Luca Jovine & Yehu Moran & Fyodor Kondrashov & Andrea Pauli, 2023. "Divergent molecular signatures in fish Bouncer proteins define cross-fertilization boundaries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Daiji Kiyozumi & Kentaro Shimada & Michael Chalick & Chihiro Emori & Mayo Kodani & Seiya Oura & Taichi Noda & Tsutomu Endo & Martin M. Matzuk & Daniel H. Wreschner & Masahito Ikawa, 2023. "A small secreted protein NICOL regulates lumicrine-mediated sperm maturation and male fertility," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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