SMCP is a 116 amino acid cytoplasmic protein that is found in the outer capsule that is associated with sperm mitochondria. Expressed specifically in spermatids of seminiferous tubules, SMCP is thought to be involved in the organization and stabilization of the helical sheath structure and may play a role in overall sperm motility. SMCP has a short N-terminal segment, a SLCterminal lysine and several internal cysteines. Defects in the gene encoding SMCP may be a cause of male infertility due to both reduced sperm motility and an inability to pierce the zona pellucida of the female egg.
Function:
Involved in sperm motility. Its absence is associated with genetic background dependent male infertility. Infertility may be due to reduced sperm motility in the female reproductive tract and inability to penetrate the oocyte zona pellucida.
Subcellular Location:
Cytoplasm. Mitochondrion membrane. Becomes associated with the spermatid mitochondrion capsule at step 16 of spermatogenesis.
Tissue Specificity:
Testis. Is selectively expressed in the spermatids of seminiferous tubules.
SWISS:
P49901
Gene ID:
4184
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 4184 Human
Omim: 601148 Human
SwissProt: P49901 Human
Unigene: 111850 Human
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