On the surface of the sperm cells there are these proteins
called Izumo 1. Sperms that do not have these proteins cannot fuse with the egg
to fertilise it. Scientists who discovered this in 2005 named the protein Izumo
1 after a Japanese marriage shrine.
Now scientists
in UK have identified the protein on the egg which docks with Izumo 1. And they
are calling it Juno, after the Roman goddess of fertility. Without Juno on eggs,
Izumo 1 on sperm is helpless and cannot enter the egg. (Nature 508, 483–487 (24 April 2014) doi:10.1038/nature13203) It
takes both Izumo 1 and Juno for mammals to reproduce.
Juno protein on eggs was well known as an
essential factor in female fertility. It was called Folate receptor 4 or Folr4
by scientists. In fact, the protein is found in other types of cells in the
immune system. Yet scientists are keen to change the name of the protein Folr4 to
Juno. Is it just a religious attitude or the need to use a bit of fancy
terminology? After all, terms like chaos and quarks have captured public
imagination and helped to get public funding. So why not change an insipid name
like Folr4 to an inspired one, like Juno?
