Scientists make breakthrough human fertility discovery by identifying 'Juno' protein on eggs
British scientists have identified a key protein in mice that helps a sperm and egg bond together -- a discovery that may have implications for improving human fertility treatments.
The process of creating an embryo involves a certain egg protein binding together with another specific protein on the sperm cell.
Back in 2005, Japanese researchers discovered the sperm protein and called it “Izumo” after a Japanese marriage shrine. However, up until now, the exact egg protein remained a mystery.
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British researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute are calling the newly discovered egg protein “Juno” -- after the Roman goddess of fertility.
"We have solved a long-standing mystery in biology by identifying the molecules displayed on all sperm and egg that must bind each other at the moment we were conceived," says Dr. Gavin Wright, the study's senior author. "Without this essential interaction, fertilisation just cannot happen. We may be able to use this discovery to improve fertility treatments and develop new contraceptives."
The study, published in the journal Nature, examined mice that lacked the Juno protein and found them to be infertile.
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Wright and his team further noted that Juno plays a role in preventing additional sperm from fusing with an already fertilized egg -- which explains why once the egg is fertilized by the first sperm cell, it shuts down its ability to recognize additional sperm.
The researchers suggest that a genetic test could determine whether a woman’s infertility is related to a lack of Juno proteins.
If so, she could skip unnecessary fertility treatments that won’t be effective, and instead focus on the manual injection of sperm.
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Watch the video below for common fertility problems that can be easily avoided.
