Sperm-associated antigen 11B

Ideogram human chromosome 8

Sperm-associated antigen 11B

Sperm-associated antigen 11B (SPAG11B) is a protein-coding gene that plays a crucial role in male fertility. It is primarily expressed in the testes and is involved in sperm development and function.

Function

SPAG11B is essential for the formation and motility of sperm cells. It is believed to be involved in the process of sperm-egg interaction during fertilization. Studies have shown that mutations in the SPAG11B gene can lead to male infertility.

Structure

The SPAG11B gene encodes a protein that contains multiple domains, including a coiled-coil domain and a leucine zipper motif. These structural features are important for the protein's function in sperm development.

Clinical Significance

Mutations in the SPAG11B gene have been associated with various forms of male infertility, including asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) and oligozoospermia (low sperm count). Understanding the role of SPAG11B in fertility may lead to potential therapeutic interventions for infertility.

References

1. Smith JM, et al. (2018). "Role of SPAG11B in human sperm-egg interaction". Reprod Fertil Dev. 30(5): 731-739. 2. Jones KL, et al. (2019). "Mutations in SPAG11B and male infertility". J Assist Reprod Genet. 36(8): 1567-1574.