Serine protease 37 (PRSS37)

Serine protease 37 (PRSS37) is a sperm-specific, putative inactive serine protease encoded by the PRSS37 gene on human chromosome 7q34 (mouse chromosome 6B2), expressed exclusively in the testis during late spermiogenesis[1][2][3]. PRSS37 plays a critical role in male fertility, particularly in sperm migration through the female reproductive tract and sperm-egg binding. Knockouts in mice result in male infertility with normal spermatogenesis, sperm morphology, and motility, but sperm cannot transit the uterus-oviduct junction or bind efficiently to zona-intact oocytes[1][2]. PRSS37 is believed to interact with and be required for proper processing of ADAM3, a protein crucial for sperm migration and fertilization, as well as components like calmegin (CLGN), calreticulin 3 (CALR3), PDILT, ADAM2/4/6B, indicating its role as part of a multiprotein complex in sperm maturation[2]. PRSS37 lacks proven catalytic protease activity, leading to the designation as an "inactive" or "putative" protease, but is evolutionarily conserved and essential for male fertility in mammals[1][2][3]. While no drugs are known to interact with PRSS37, it is regarded as a promising target for non-hormonal male contraception due to its contraceptive phenotype when ablated, and minimal predicted side effects due to restricted tissue expression[2]. No established biomarkers, pharmacological agents, or direct safety concerns exist beyond the male infertility resulting from loss of PRSS37 function[1][2][3].

Other names

Probable inactive serine protease 37TRYX2Probable inactive trypsin-X2Peptidase S1 domain-containing protein LOC136242protease, serine 37PRSS37PRS371700016G05Rik