@entity1 spermatozoa interact with the proteins secreted by the epididymis to develop fertility. Transmembrane proteins that possess a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) domains are shown to be closely related to spermatogenesis and fertilization. Our previous study demonstrated that @entity69988 , a glycoprotein secreted by the epididymis, was conjugated to mature sperm. In this study, a 2.1-kilobase (kb) @entity69988 -expressing insert was isolated from a cDNA library of @entity1 epididymis by immunoscreening using @entity69988 -specific antiserum. The 5' end rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and 3'-RACE of the 2.1-kb insert elucidated two isoforms of @entity69988 -encoding cDNA sequences, an alpha-form of 3451 base pairs (bp) and beta-form of 2643 bp. Both forms exhibit the same open reading frame of 2262 bp predicting a peptide of 754 @entity535 residues. Deduced @entity535 sequence revealed signal sequence, prodomain, metalloproteinase, disintegrin, @entity462 -rich, epidermal growth factor-like, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains. The @entity69988 -encoding sequence was recognized as @entity1 @entity69988 due to significant homology to other @entity69988 s. According to the DNA sequences elucidated in the @entity1 Genome Project, h- @entity69988 was located at chromosome 8p22. Ex vivo expression confirmed that h- @entity69988 cDNA did encode @entity69988 . Northern blot analysis revealed two transcripts of 4 kb and 3 kb in the epididymis, but not in testis or other major tissues. These results indicate that the @entity69988 -encoding gene is a @entity1 epididymis-associated @entity69988 gene ( @entity1 @entity69988 , h- @entity69988 ) and may be involved in the sperm-egg interaction.

Cloning and characterization of a complementary DNA encoding a XXXX epididymis-associated disintegrin and metalloprotease 7 protein.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'Human', 'Mammalian'] @entity69988 :: ('8756', 'Gene') :: ['ADAM7', 'GP-83'] @entity462 :: ('MESH:D003545', 'Chemical') :: ['cysteine'] @entity535 :: ('CHEBI:33704', 'Chemical') :: ['amino acid']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['human']
