Abstract: Identified herein are sperm ligand proteins located in the membrane of sperm, which proteins interact with the membrane of oocytes. Methods of using these proteins, or fragments or derivatives or analogs thereof, are also described. These include methods of increasing (or reducing) successful fertilization, for instance through improved sperm-oocyte binding, fusion or activation (or the blocking thereof); methods of preventing fertilization of an oocyte, for instance by inducing an immune response to at least one sperm ligand that promotes sperm-oocyte binding, sperm-oocyte fusion or oocyte activation; and methods for enhancing assisted reproductive technologies, for instance through stimulation of activation with nuclear transfer, stimulation of inactive or weak sperm, and so forth.

Abstract: Identified herein are sperm ligand proteins located in the membrane of sperm, which proteins interact with the membrane of oocytes. Methods of using these proteins, or fragments or derivatives or analogs thereof, are also described. These include methods of increasing (or reducing) successful fertilization, for instance through improved sperm-oocyte binding, fusion or activation (or the blocking thereof); methods of preventing fertilization of an oocyte, for instance by inducing an immune response to at least one sperm ligand that promotes sperm-oocyte binding, sperm-oocyte fusion or oocyte activation; and methods for enhancing assisted reproductive technologies, for instance through stimulation of activation with nuclear transfer, stimulation of inactive or weak sperm, and so forth.