Abstract
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a vulnerable species and an icon of wildlife conservation, is still at risk due to habitat fragmentation and a low reproductive rate. To further safeguard the giant panda from extinction, a captive breeding program was established in the mid 1980's, however the growth of this population has been hindered by the poor reproductive ability of captive male giant pandas. To address this, we investigated the sperm proteome of the giant panda as detailed information on sperm proteome is unavailable, as it is a highly specialized area of study. A study of adult panda sperm proteome identified 1921 proteins with enriched domains, including EF-hand, AAA+ ATPase, and WD 40 repeat. A comparison with four other species revealed common sperm proteins related to metabolic processes, especially glycolysis and citrate cycle, which are crucial for sperm energy. Panda-specific proteins were mainly associated with cellular protein metabolism. Serpin domain-related proteins may play a key role in panda semen properties and liquefaction, involving prefoldin beta-like and heat shock chaperonin-binding. This research contributes to understanding giant panda reproduction and aids in conservation efforts.