title: Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human sperm antigen (HE2) specifically expressed in the proximal epididymis.
abstract: A novel human cDNA encoding a small secretory glycopeptide specifically expressed within the caput and proximal corpus regions of the human epididymis, HE2, has been cloned and sequenced. Southern hybridization analysis showed it to be derived from a single-copy gene. A subclone containing the coding region of the mature peptide was used to generate the putatively encoded peptide as a 10,000 M(r) recombinant fusion protein in a bacterial expression system. This recombinant HE2 protein, as well as an oligopeptide deduced from the open-reading frame, was used to raise polyclonal antisera. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that the predicted HE2 peptide is present in the epididymal epithelium and on the sperm surface, where it adopts a typical antigenic pattern with a subacrosomal equatorial distribution on the sperm head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osterhoff
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krull
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D004822:Epididymis / Q000276:immunology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006020:Glycopeptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C087044:SPAG11A protein, human