Sperm flagellar protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SPEF2gene.[5][6][7][8]
SPEF2 plays an important role in spermatogenesis and flagellar assembly.[9] SPEF2 is expressed in all ciliated cells and is required for cilia function.[9][10] Sperm contain cilia, and a mutation in the SPEF2 gene can cause male infertility due to immobile sperm.[9][10] In a pig animal model, a SPEF2 mutation affects the sperm tail development.[10] And a loss of function mutation in SPEF2 in mice causes the big giant head phenotype.[9] SPEF2 mRNA and protein products are localized in germ and sertoli cells.[10] Within these cells, SPEF2 is localized in the golgi complex, manchette, basal body and mid piece of the sperm tail.[10] SPEF2 has been shown to interact with the intracellular transport protein IFT20 in the testis.[10]
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