Newsroom

Research leads to new insights into mammalian fertilization


August 24, 2011

New research by Dr. Nongnuj Tanphaichitr, Dr. Ajoy Basak and colleagues reveals that a sperm protein called PCSK4 plays a crucial role in mammalian fertilization by cutting and activating other sperm proteins. Small peptides that inhibit PCSK4 could reduce sperm fertilizing ability to almost zero. The research, published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology, could lead to the development of novel contraceptives.

This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and scholarships from the government of Thailand. All research at OHRI is also supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.