title: Male infertility-related molecules involved in sperm-oocyte fusion.
abstract: Male infertility has become a very serious problem in the human reproduction system, but the molecular mechanism of infertility remains largely unknown. Fertilization is the phenomenon in which a sperm and oocyte find each other, interact, and fuse. Sperm-oocyte fusion-related factors on the sperm side play crucial roles in male infertility. For example, IZUMO1 is well-known as a sperm protein essential for fusion of a sperm and oocyte, but its dysfunction or mutation can result in male infertility. Recent studies showed a novel sperm protein named Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), which takes part in the sperm-oocyte fusion process. The complexity and expected redundancy of the factors involved makes the process intricate, with a still poorly understood mechanism, which is difficult to comprehend in full detail. This review summarizes the known molecules involved in the process of sperm-oocyte fusion, mainly focusing on the relevant factors on the sperm side, whose dysregulation may potentially be associated with male infertility. New insights may come from these molecules in this review, can facilitate the development of new treatments of male infertility, and may have a diagnostic value in infertility.
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Xenotransplantation Medical Engineering Research and Development Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Lisha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002450:Cell Communication; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010539:Permeability; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002843:Chromatin; C498176:IZUMO1 protein, human; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008565:Membrane Proteins