The correlation of anti-sperm antibodies with cases of unexplained infertility implicates a role for these antibodies in blocking fertilization. Improved diagnosis and treatment of immunologic infertility, as well as identification of proteins for targeted contraception, are dependent on the identification and characterization of relevant sperm antigens. The protein encoded by this gene is recognized by sperm agglutinating antibodies from an infertile woman. This protein is localized in germ cells of the testis at all stages of spermatogenesis and is localized to the acrosomal region of mature spermatozoa. Alternatively spliced variants that encode different protein isoforms have been described but the full-length sequences of only two have been determined.[7]
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^Wang H, Miao S, Chen D, Wang L, Koide SS (Nov 1999). "Assignment of chromosomal locus and evidence for alternatively spliced mRNAs of a human sperm membrane protein (hSMP-1)". Biochim Biophys Acta. 1447 (1): 119–24. doi:10.1016/s0167-4781(99)00136-0. PMID10500252.
Kuang Y, Yan YC, Gao AW, et al. (2001). "Immune responses in rats following oral immunization with attenuated Salmonella typhimurium expressing human sperm antigen". Arch. Androl. 45 (3): 169–80. doi:10.1080/01485010050193940. PMID11111865. S2CID218990195.
Zhang XD, Miao SY, Wang LF, et al. (2001). "Human sperm membrane protein (hSMP-1): a developmental testis-specific component during germ cell differentiation". Arch. Androl. 45 (3): 239–46. doi:10.1080/01485010050194020. PMID11111873. S2CID218988933.
Tang X, Zhang J, Cai Y, et al. (2004). "Sperm membrane protein (hSMP-1) and RanBPM complex in the microtubule-organizing centre". J. Mol. Med. 82 (6): 383–8. doi:10.1007/s00109-004-0535-2. PMID15014887. S2CID21455758.
