Novel Egg Receptors for Sperm Proteins

A composition for preventing or inhibiting a sperm from fusing with an egg, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and at least one isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein, or a variant, homolog, or fragment thereof, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18.

A composition for preventing or inhibiting fertilization, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and at least one isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein, or a variant, homolog, or fragment thereof, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18.

A method of preventing or inhibiting fertilization, said method comprising contacting a sperm or egg with an effective amount of at least one compound which prevents or inhibits the interaction of a sperm protein with an egg protein.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and at least one egg protein, or a variant, homolog, fragment or derivative thereof, wherein said protein is capable of inducing an immune response useful for preventing or inhibiting conception in a subject, further wherein said at least one egg protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

A method for preventing or inhibiting fertilization, said method comprising contacting an egg with an effective amount of an inhibitor of MET protein.

A method for preventing or inhibiting fertilization, said method comprising contacting an egg with an effective amount of an inhibitor of ZEP protein.