Review articleSperm proteome and reproductive technologies in mammals

- Sperm proteins can be used as markers for male infertility due to different protein profiles identified in sperm from fertile and infertile male animals.
- The changes of protein profile in sperm at different in vitro conditions will guide us to operate sperm more carefully.
- The different proteins expressed in X or Y sperm can provide new idea to develop new sex control technology.

Sperm is highly differentiated cell that can be easily obtained and purified. Mature sperm is considered to be transcriptionally and translationally silent and incapable of protein synthesis. Recently, a large number of proteins have been identified in sperm from different species by using the proteomic approaches. Clinically, sperm proteins can be used as markers for male infertility due to different protein profiles identified in sperm from fertile and infertile male animals. Recent evidences have shown that the conditions of sperm preservation in vitro can also change the sperm protein profiles. This paper reviews the recent scientific publications available to address sperm proteome and their relationship with sperm cryopreservation, capacitation, fertilization, and separation of X and Y sperm. Future directions in the application of sperm proteomics to develop or optimize reproductive technologies in mammals are also discussed.