A new approach to immunological sexing of sperm.
A non-invasive, immunological method for sexing mammalian sperm would be of benefit to agricultural industries. This paper presents a new approach, based on the hypothesis that sex-specific proteins (SSPs) are evolutionarily more highly conserved than non-SSPs. Antibodies to non-SSPs were raised and used in an affinity procedure to remove non-SSPs and enrich for SSPs. Thereafter, using column chromatography, purified SSPs were obtained. Sex-specific antibodies (SSAbs) raised against these SSPs appear to bind to sex-chromosome-specific proteins (SCSPs) on the sperm membrane and make possible a sperm-sexing procedure. Antibodies to SCSPs were raised and used to identify putative SCSPs by affinity chromatography. The preliminary results presented here suggest that a viable immunological sperm sexing procedure can be developed.
Blecher
S R
SR
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Howie
R
R
Li
S
S
Detmar
J
J
Blahut
L M
LM
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000196:embryology; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology
D000906:Antibodies; D008565:Membrane Proteins