Methods
Homology modeling and x-ray crystallography were used to identify structural features that are conserved in GAPDHS orthologs in mouse and human sperm, but distinct from the GAPDH orthologs present in somatic tissues. We identified three binding pockets surrounding the substrate and cofactor in these isozymes and conducted a virtual screen to identify small-molecule compounds predicted to bind more tightly to GAPDHS than to GAPDH. Following the production of recombinant human and mouse GAPDHS, candidate compounds were tested in dose-response enzyme assays to identify inhibitors that blocked the activity of GAPDHS more effectively than GAPDH. The effects of a selective inhibitor on the motility of mouse and human sperm were monitored by computer-assisted sperm analysis, and sperm lactate production was measured to assess inhibition of glycolysis in the target cell. Main