Back to your search result

Description

Ovochymase-2 (UniProt: Q7M761, Oviductin, OVCH2) is encoded by the Ovch2 (also known as Ovtn) gene (Gene ID: 244199) in murine species. OVCH2 is a member of the peptidase S1 family that is synthesized with a signal peptide (aa 1-22) that is subsequently cleaved off. It also has a propeptide (aa 23-51) that serves as an activation peptide. OVCH2 is mainly localized in the caput region of epididymis that is most proximal to the testis. It is shown to be essential for processing ADAM3, the sperm surface protein that is required for the fertilizing ability of sperm. It is reported that a neural epidermal growth factor like like 2 (NELL2), binds to an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase, c-Ros oncogene 1 (ROS1), and mediates the differentiation of the initial segment (IS) of the caput epididymis. Male mice with NELL2 are reported to be infertile. (Ref.: Kiyozumi, D., et al. (2020). Science. 368(6495), 1132-1135).