Predicted to enable signaling receptor binding activity. Involved in single fertilization. Located in cell surface; cytoplasm; and pseudopodium. Is expressed in sperm and spermatid. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Adams-Oliver syndrome and limb ischemia. Orthologous to human DLL1 (delta like canonical Notch ligand 1) and DLL4 (delta like canonical Notch ligand 4).
WB Description
spe-9 encodes an EGF repeat-containing protein with a short intracellular domain; SPE-9 is required autonomously in sperm for fertilization, and by homology, likely mediates an adhesive or signaling event necessary for proper oocyte fertilization; spe-9 mRNA is detected solely in animals that are engaged in spermatogenesis; in spermatids, SPE-9 is found at or near the cell surface; following sperm activation, SPE-9 is found primarily on the pseudopod.