A newly discovered protein helps sperm fuse with the egg, which could be used to improve fertility treatments, according to a study published Wednesday by Science Advances.
The new protein, called Maia, It is essential for human fertilization since it is responsible for attracting sperm to the cytoplasm of the egg.indicates the University of Sheffield, in the United Kingdom, which led an international team.
Knowing this protein could be fundamental to help understand some aspects of fertility and develop new treatments, the scientists point out in the study.
The researchers created artificial eggs with different pieces of protein on their surface so that sperm could stick to them.
After removing those with which the sperm had not fused, only Maia remained, the protein to which they all adhered.
The next step was to insert the gene corresponding to this protein into artificial human cells, which became receptive to sperm in the same way as during the natural fertilization process.
The results may also help confirm the theory that some sperm may not be compatible with some eggs.
The research team plans to explore whether sperm from different individuals bind to the protein differently.
Study leader Harry Moore of the University of Sheffield said what is known about human fertility “has been severely limited by ethical concerns and a lack of research on ova.”
However, this “ingenious artificial fertilization technique” allowed them to identify the new protein that will allow “a better understanding of the mechanisms of human fertility, pave the way for new ways to treat infertility and revolutionize the design of future contraceptives.”
Source: Observadora
