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Preface

Regulatory Events Involved in the Genesis
and Development of Gamete

• Chromatin remodeling during mammalian spermatogenesis: role of testis specific histone variants and transition proteins 
• Retinoid signaling during spermatogenesis as revealed by genetic and metabolic manipulations of retinoic acid receptor alpha
• The role of androgens in spermatogenesis
• Delineating the role of estrogen in regulating epididymal gene expression 
• Molecular mechanism of oocyte maturation 
• Differential gene expression in transition of primordial to preantral follicles in mouse ovary
• Putative human male germ cells from bone marrow stem cells
• Establishment and differentiation of human embryonic stem cell derived germ cells

Spermatozoa Associated Proteins and their Functions

• Validation of a testis specific serine/threonine kinase [TSSK] family, and the substrate of TSSK1 & 2, TSKS, as contraceptive targets
• Role of male reproductive tract CD52 (mrt-CD52) in reproduction
• Regulation of sperm function by protein phosphatase PP1g2
• The molecular basis of “Curlicue”, a sperm motility abnormality linked to the sterility of t haplotype homozygous male mice
• The role of A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) in regulating sperm function
• Glycodelin: a molecule with multi-functions on spermatozoa
• Biological meaning of ubiquitination and DNA fragmentation in human spermatozoa
• A testis specific auto-antigen TSA70 belongs to ODF2/Cenexin family
• Modulators of spermatogenic cell survival

Molecular Characterization and Functional Significance of Oocyte-Specific Proteins

• Features that affect secretion and assembly of zona pellucida glycoproteins during mammalian oogenesis
• Structural and functional attributes of zona pellucida glycoproteins
• Structural significance of N-glycansof zona pellucida on species-selective recognition of spermbetween pig and cattle
• Contribution of zona proteins to oocyte growth

Signaling Pathways Associated with Attainment of Fertilization Competence in Spermatozoa and Oocyte

• Understanding the physiology of pre-fertilization events in the human spermatozoa-a necessary prerequisite to developing rational therapy
• Biology of sperm capacitation:evidence for multiple signaling pathways
• Molecular mechanisms of sperm capacitation: progesterone-induced secondary calcium oscillations reflect the attainment of a capacitated state
• Mammalian sperm capacitation: role of phosphotyrosine proteins
• Tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in mammalian spermatozoa: molecular and functional aspects
• Cellular and molecular events during oocyte maturation in mammals: molecules of cumulus-oocyte complex matrix and signaling pathways regulating meiotic progression
• Reversible phosphorylation andregulation ofmammalian oocyte meiotic chromatin remodeling and segregation   

Molecular Basis of Sperm-Oocyte Interaction

• The enigma of sperm-egg recognition in mice
• Novel gamete receptors that facilitate sperm adhesion to the egg coat
• Mechanism of sperm-zona pellucida penetration during mammalian fertilization: 26S proteasome as a candidate egg coat lysin
• A comparative analysis of molecular mechanisms for blocking polyspermy: identification of a lectin-ligand binding reaction in mammalian eggs

Translation of Knowledge Pertaining to Gamete Biology to either Overcome Infertility or Development of Novel Contraceptives

• Contraceptive development: targets, approaches and challenges
• Family of sperm associated antigens:relevance in sperm-egg interaction and immunocontraception
• Eppin: an epididymal protease inhibitor and a target for male contraception
• Effect of immunization with six sperm peptide vaccines on fertility of female mice
• Expression of a recombinant human sperm-agglutinating mini-antibody in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)
• Feasibility and challenges in the development of immunocontraceptive vaccine based on zona pellucida glycoproteins
• Current status of virally vectored immunocontraception for biological control of mice
• Functional analyses of the spermcentrosome in human reproduction:implications for assisted reproductive technique
• Non-genomic membrane progesterone receptors on humanspermatozoa
• Oocyte growth and acquisition of meiotic competence
• Hyaluronan binding protein 1: a modulator ofsperm-oocyte interaction
• Index