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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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BSPH1
binder of sperm protein homolog 1
Chromosome 19 · 19q13.33
NCBI Gene: 100131137Ensembl: ENSG00000188334.3HGNC: HGNC:33906UniProt: Q075Z2
6PubMed Papers
17Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
heparin bindingsperm capacitationcell surfaceextracellular regionneurodegenerative diseasenon-alcoholic fatty liver diseasechronic myelogenous leukemiamyeloid leukemia
✦AI Summary

BSPH1 (binder of sperm protein homolog 1) is an epididymal protein that promotes sperm capacitation, a maturation step essential for fertilization 1. The protein is exclusively expressed in epididymal tissues 1 and localizes to the equatorial segment, post-acrosomal segment, and neck of ejaculated sperm 1. BSPH1 contains two fibronectin type-II domains characteristic of the BSP protein family 2 and binds to phospholipid liposomes, heparin, gelatin, and low-density lipoproteins 2. Mechanistically, BSPH1 specifically promotes HDL-induced sperm capacitation through direct interaction with HDLs, increasing tyrosine phosphorylation 3, but does not facilitate BSA-induced capacitation 3. Unlike other BSP proteins, BSPH1 does not induce the acrosome reaction 4. Functionally, BSPH1 shares biochemical characteristics with seminal vesicle BSP proteins from ungulates 1, suggesting evolutionary conservation of sperm maturation mechanisms across mammals. While BSPH1's role in male fertility is established, BSPH2 knockout mice show normal fertility, suggesting functional redundancy or divergence within the BSP family 5. These findings position BSPH1 as a key regulator of lipid-mediated sperm capacitation with potential implications for understanding human male fertility.

Sources cited
1
BSPH1 specifically promotes HDL-induced sperm capacitation and blocks capacitation when antibodies against BSPH1 are used
PMID: 25602034
2
Human BSPH1 is expressed solely in epididymal tissues and promotes sperm capacitation without affecting acrosome reaction or motility
PMID: 24435510
3
Murine BSPH1 binds gelatin, heparin, and phosphatidylcholine liposomes and promotes sperm capacitation but not acrosome reaction
PMID: 22539676
4
BSPH1 contains fibronectin type-II domains and binds phosphatidylcholine liposomes, low-density lipoproteins, and human sperm
PMID: 19091820
5
BSPH2 knockout mice show normal fertility, suggesting functional redundancy within the BSP family
PMID: 29969530
6
BSPH1 mRNA is expressed only in the epididymis and encodes a protein with two fibronectin type II domains
PMID: 17085770
Disease Associationsⓘ17
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.38Weak
non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
chronic myelogenous leukemiaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
colitisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
acute basophilic leukemiaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
steatosisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
acute erythroleukemiaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
infertilityOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
microphthalmia with limb anomaliesOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
osteoporosisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
viral diseaseOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
clear cell renal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
ELSPBP1Shared pathway100%CABYRShared pathway50%SEMG2Shared pathway50%CATSPERHShared pathway33%CATSPERQShared pathway33%EFCAB9Shared pathway33%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Lung
0%
Ovary
0%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
BSPH1ELSPBP1CABYRSEMG2CATSPERHCATSPERQEFCAB9
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q075Z2
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.44LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.93 [0.62–1.44]
RankingsWhere BSPH1 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #18,026of 20,598
    Most Researched6
  • #14,754of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.44
Genes detectedBSPH1
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Murine binder of sperm protein homolog 1: a new player in HDL-induced capacitation.
PMID: 25602034
Reproduction · 2015
1.00
2
Implication of the human Binder of SPerm Homolog 1 (BSPH1) protein in capacitation.
PMID: 24435510
Mol Hum Reprod · 2014
0.90
3
Characterization of recombinant murine binder of sperm protein homolog 1 and its role in capacitation.
PMID: 22539676
Biol Reprod · 2012
0.80
4
Recombinant expression and affinity purification of a novel epididymal human sperm-binding protein, BSPH1.
PMID: 19091820
Mol Hum Reprod · 2009
0.70
5
CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutation revealed BSPH2 protein is dispensable for male fertility.
PMID: 29969530
Mol Reprod Dev · 2018
0.60