Jeonnam National University Research Team Secures Technology to Measure Molecular Changes in Abalone Sperm

Expectations for Establishing a Marine Organism Sperm Bank

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Chonnam National University has secured technology to stably measure gene expression and molecular-level changes in sperm of northern abalone frozen at ultra-low temperatures (minus 196 degrees Celsius).

This technological advancement is expected to enable the establishment of sperm banks for aquatic organisms.

Professor Ko Kanghee's research team (Department of Aquaculture Biology) announced on the 25th that antifreeze protein III, an antifreeze protein, can dramatically inhibit extracellular ice formation during the freezing process of sperm.

They also confirmed the expression of Protein kinase C and heat shock protein genes in the cryopreserved sperm and measured changes in chromosome structure, cell membrane, acrosome, and mitochondrial membrane potential.

The research results were published online in Frontiers in Marine Science (IF 3.6) and International Journal of Molecular Science (IF 4.6), both top 10% international journals.

The research team consists of Professor Ko (corresponding author), Shaharior Hossen (1st year PhD, first author), and Jo Yushin (1st year PhD, co-author). The study was conducted with support from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' practical fisheries project and the Korea Research Foundation's mid-career scientist research funding.

Professor Ko stated, "These research results will serve as an important foundational technology for future species conservation and seed industry of aquatic organisms."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.