SPATA16, also known as NYD-SP12, is a developmental protein that aids in differentiation of germ cells for spermatogenesis and participates in acrosome formation for appropriate sperm-egg fusion.
The research team used cDNA microarrays to compare expression levels of genes between adult and fetal human testes.
[1][2][5] Mutations in the SPATA16 gene are associated with male infertility in humans and can cause globozoospermia, which are round-headed sperm without acrosomes.
Sperm with incorrect head morphology and absent acrosome are unable to bind to an oocyte for fertilization.
In contrast, infertility caused by SPATA16 mutations in male humans develop spermatozoa that are motile, but their sperm exhibit head and acrosome abnormalities.