Abstract
Seminal vesicle protein 4 (SV-IV) is a highly flexible molecule that in aqueous solution behaves as a concentration-dependent self-associating system in which the degree of association (monomer <--> dimer <--> trimer equilibrium) seems to be related to its biological activities. This review reports the functional role of SV-IV in seminal clotting exerted through the modulation of inflammation, hemostasis, and sperm protection against the damage induced by immunological or reactive oxygen species during the long journey of spermatozoa in the female genital tract.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Female
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Hemostasis / immunology
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Humans
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Inflammation / immunology
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Inflammation / metabolism
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Male
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Peptides / genetics
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Peptides / immunology*
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Peptides / metabolism
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Protein Conformation
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Reactive Oxygen Species / immunology
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Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
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Semen / chemistry
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Semen / immunology*
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Semen / metabolism
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Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins / chemistry
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Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins / immunology*
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Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins / metabolism
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Spermatozoa / immunology
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Spermatozoa / metabolism
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Structure-Activity Relationship
Substances
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Peptides
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins