An Antimicrobial Peptide Gene Found in the Male Reproductive System of Rats
Supported by NSFC, Prof. Zhang Yonglian of CAS Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology has obtained important accomplishments with the research on special gene associated with the maturation of epididymis sperms. On the foundation of having cloned the total length complementary DNA of a series of new genes expressed exclusively in spermary, the study on the function of one new gene named Bin1b has made breakthrough, and it is discovered that Bin1b is exclusively expressed in the caput region of the rat epididymis, and maximally expressed when the rats are sexually mature. The peptide expressed by Bin1b gene has the function to kill bacteria and is induced by epididymitis. At present it is the first time in epididymis to discover the natural antibacterial peptide which is related to self defense system of epididymis. It is also the first time to prove that spermary has immune system. The paper entitled An Antimicrobial Peptide Gene Found in the Male Reproductive System of Rats was published in Science (2001-3), and it is the first time for the basic research achievements of Chinese life sciences to be published in Science. Science commentator remarked that the peptide expressed by Bin1b gene could be exploited to make medicament that could retard generation of sperms and counteract STD (sexually transmitted disease). American magazine Forbes and CNN remarked that Chinese scientists had found genes of defending STD.