Cloning and sequencing of baboon and cynomolgus monkey intraacrosomal protein SP‐10: Homology with human SP‐10 and a mouse sperm antigen (MSA‐63)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In this study, cDNAs encoding the intraacrosomal protein SP‐10 were cloned and sequenced from baboon (Papio papio) and macaque (Macaca fasicularis) testis libraries and the sequence compared to that of human SP‐10. Two alternatively spliced SP‐10 cDNAs were obtained from both baboon and macaque testis libraries. The two cDNAs in each species contained open reading frames encoding proteins of exactly 285 and 251 amino acids. A 98% homology between baboon and macaque SP‐10 was found at the protein and DNA levels. An 85% and 89% homology between baboon and macaque SP‐10 and human SP‐10 was present at the protein and DNA level, respectively. A mouse intraacrosomal protein, MSA‐63, considered to be an SP‐10 homologue, exhibited an overall 53% homology to nonhuman primate SP‐10 and a 60% homology to human SP‐10 at the protein level. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of testis mRNA confirmed the existence of two alternately spliced SP‐10 mRNAs in both nonhuman primates. Primer extension analysis indicated a common major transcriptional start site in baboon, macaque, and human SP‐10 67 nucleotides 5′ to the ATG codon. The amino acid sequence data for nonhuman primate SP‐10s suggest that antibodies generated by vaccinating baboons and macaques with human SP‐10 will likely recognize nonhuman primate SP‐10, supporting the testing of an SP‐10 contraceptive vaccine based on human SP‐10 in these nonhuman primate models.