title: Evolution and function of mammalian binder of sperm proteins.
abstract: Binder of sperm (BSP) proteins are ubiquitous among mammals and have been extensively investigated over the last three decades. They were first characterized in bull seminal plasma and have now been identified in more than 15 different mammalian species where they represent a superfamily. In addition to sharing a common structure, BSP proteins share many characteristics. They are expressed by seminal vesicles and epididymides, interact with similar ligands and bind to the outer leaflet of sperm membranes via an interaction with choline phospholipids. In addition to playing a major role in sperm capacitation, they are implicated as molecular chaperones in sperm motility and viability, in the formation of the oviductal sperm reservoir, in the regulation of cell volume and possibly in the interaction between sperm and oocytes, making them crucial multifunctional proteins. Furthermore, BSP proteins can bind to egg yolk low-density lipoproteins and milk components, an interaction important for the protection of sperm during semen preservation in liquid or frozen state. Our current knowledge of BSP proteins strongly emphasizes their fundamental importance in male fertility and in the optimization of semen preservation techniques. Much work is still ahead in order to fully understand all the mysteries of BSP proteins.
authors.affiliation: Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, 5415 L'Assomption blvd, Montréal, Québec, H1T 2M4, Canada.|Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.affiliation: Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, 5415 L'Assomption blvd, Montréal, Québec, H1T 2M4, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prud'homme
authors.affiliation: The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4A 3J1.
authors.forename: Jinjiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafleur
authors.affiliation: Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, 5415 L'Assomption blvd, Montréal, Québec, H1T 2M4, Canada. puttaswamy.manjunath@umontreal.ca.|Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7. puttaswamy.manjunath@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Puttaswamy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manjunath
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005298:Fertility; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D029607:Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029607:Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins
keywords: Binder of sperm proteins; Evolution; Functions; Male genital tract; Sperm