Buck (Capra hircus) genes encode new members of the spermadhesin family

Spermadhesins are the major proteins of boar seminal plasma and form a group of polypeptides probably involved in reproduction. In previous work, a member of the spermadhesin family from buck seminal plasma, called BSFP, was characterized by mass spectrometry and N‐terminal sequencing. The present study aimed to clone and characterize the BSFP gene and investigate its expression along the genital tract using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cDNAs of the seminal vesicle, testis, epididymis, bulbourethral gland, and ductus deferens were prepared from a buck. Following 3′‐ and 5′‐end amplifications using seminal vesicle cDNA, we cloned and sequenced four highly similar (97–98%) nucleotide sequences encoding spermadhesins, which were named Bodhesin‐1(Bdh‐1), Bdh‐2, Bdh‐3, and Bdh‐4. All deduced amino acid sequences contained the CUB domain signature and were 49–52% similar to boar AWN. Among the four Bdh amino acid sequences, Bdh‐2 was the most similar to the BSFP N‐terminal fragment. By using real‐time PCR, it was verified specific amplifications for all Bdh in the seminal vesicle, testis, epididymis, and bulbourethral gland, with the exception of Bdh‐2 in epididymis. The amplicons had a melting temperature and size of approximately 78°C and 130 bp, respectively. Bdh expression was higher in the seminal vesicle when compared to the other tissues. The present work confirms that goat is the fifth mammalian species, after pig, cattle, horse, and sheep, in which spermadhesin molecules are found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on buck spermadhesin genes using molecular cloning and expression profile. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 8–16, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.