|
[news 2007-2008]
Technology
to assist male fertility receives development funding
from CIHR
Sperm protein discovered at Queen's University may boost
the success rate of in-vitro fertilization
For immediate release
March 12, 2007
KINGSTON, ON -- A Queen's University researcher has
been awarded $142,000 from the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research Proof of Principle program
to develop a protein that may help treat male infertility.
The funding will allow Dr.
Richard Oko of the Department of Anatomy and Cell
Biology to test the ability of a sperm-derived protein
called Postacrosomal sheath WW domain binding protein
(PAWP) to activate the female egg during fertilization.
Dr. Oko's findings offer the potential to improve the
disappointing success rates associated with a type of
in-vitro fertilization called ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic
sperm injection) , where the sperm is directly injected
into the egg cell.
Scientists have been searching for a ‘sperm-borne activating
factor' (or SOAF) to explain how the sperm signals to
the egg to get ready for fertilization. Immature or
underdeveloped sperm can't successfully fertilize an
egg even when the sperm is directly injected into the
egg by ICSI. This suggests that the egg needs to receive
the right signal from the sperm to become activated.
Because the PAWP protein is made only by fully mature
sperm, and because initial laboratory results show that
adding PAWP to the egg cell starts the egg down the
activation pathway, PAWP looks like a promising SOAF
candidate.
Dr Oko is working with Drs. Warren Foster of McMaster
University and Peter Sutovsky of University of Missouri-Columbia
to demonstrate that PAWP can boost the success rate
of ICSI, which is normally only about 20 to 30 per cent.
“The technology
shows promise in increasing the success rate of artificial
reproduction in animals, as well as overcoming male
infertility in humans,” says Dr. Oko.
A U.S. patent, No. 6,995,252, “PT32 sperm protein, sperm
c-Yes, oocyte cytoplasmic c-Yes and uses thereof”, has
been issued for the technology. PARTEQ Innovations,
the technology transfer office of Queen's, has also
filed Canadian and international patent applications.
The POP award was one of two honours accorded to Dr.
Oko's sperm protein research in recent weeks. His research
paper, "PAWP, a sperm specific WW-domain binding protein,
promotes meiotic resumption and pronuclear development
during fertilization," has been chosen by the Journal
of Biological Chemistry (JBC) as a Paper of the
Week, signifying its ranking by JBC's editorial board
and associate editors as being in the top one per cent
of the 6,600 papers they review each year. Papers are
chosen for their significance and overall importance.
“This technology is a good example of how fundamental
research can lead to significant scientific discoveries
as well as practical solutions,” says Anne Vivian-Scott,
Vice-President of Commercial Development at PARTEQ.
Contact:
Anne Vivian-Scott
Vice-President, Commercial Development
PARTEQ Innovations
P: 613. 533. 6000 xt. 75513
E: avivianscott@parteqinnovations.com
|
