Discovery, Primary, and Crystal Structures and Capacitation-related Properties of a Prostate-derived Heparin-binding Protein WGA16 from Boar Sperm

Abstract

Background: Mechanisms of glycoprotein redistribution during sperm capacitation remain unclear. Results: Prostate-specific ZG16-like lectin WGA16 was discovered in sperm lipid rafts. Its primary and crystal structure and GalT-and heparin-binding properties were characterized. Conclusion: Attachment to sperm via surface GalT and capacitation-induced detachment involve unique N-glycans and the heparin-binding domain. Significance: This is the first demonstration of a glycan-mediated mechanism for transient existence of seminal plasma glycoprotein on the sperm surface.

Expression of β‐NGF and high‐affinity NGF receptor (TrKA) in llama (Lama glama) male reproductive tract and spermatozoa

“…Supporting this hypothesis, β‐NGF was detected abundantly in SAP fraction, easily removed by 0.5 M KCl. This technique is consistent with descriptions for SAP in llama (Zampini, Sequeira, Argañaraz, & Apichela, ) and other livestock (e.g., bulls (Einspanier et al, ; Manjunath, Bergeron, Lefebvre, & Fan, ), rams (Bergeron, Villemure, Lazure, & Manjunath, ; Pérez‐Pé, Cebrián‐Pérez, & Muiño‐Blanco, ), and boars (Garénaux et al, )).…”

SL15: A seminal plasma‐derived lectin from the sperm of llama (Lama glama)

“…Boar WGA16, a lectin similar to SL15, was recently reported to bind to terminal β‐ N ‐acetylhexoseamine and N ‐acetylneuraminic acid residues (Garénaux et al, ). WGA16 is a prostate‐derived seminal‐plasma glycoprotein adsorbed to sperm that disappears from the sperm surface during capacitation, which was proposed to be related to its affinity towards heparin or sulfated glycosaminoglycans (Garénaux et al, ). Site‐directed mutagenesis defined the heparin‐binding site of WGA16 in the basic cluster of K53 and K73 (Garénaux et al, ).…”

“…WGA16 is a prostate‐derived seminal‐plasma glycoprotein adsorbed to sperm that disappears from the sperm surface during capacitation, which was proposed to be related to its affinity towards heparin or sulfated glycosaminoglycans (Garénaux et al, ). Site‐directed mutagenesis defined the heparin‐binding site of WGA16 in the basic cluster of K53 and K73 (Garénaux et al, ). Interestingly, these two amino acids are conserved in llama SL15, suggesting that SL15 also possesses heparin‐binding capacity.…”

Alpha‐2 macroglobulin as a region‐specific secretory protein in male reproductive tract, and its dynamics during sperm transit toward the female spermatheca in the blue crab

“…The amplified fragment was ligated into pGEM T‐easy vector (Promega) using Ligation High Version2 (Toyobo, Osaka, Japan), and transformed into DH5α competent cells. The DNA‐inserted plasmids were purified (Garénaux et al, ) and precipitated using 20% of polyethylene glycol. pGEM T‐easy vector containing the P. pelagicus α2m fragment was sequenced with M13 forward and reverse primers, using methods previously reported (Garénaux et al, ).…”

“…The DNA‐inserted plasmids were purified (Garénaux et al, ) and precipitated using 20% of polyethylene glycol. pGEM T‐easy vector containing the P. pelagicus α2m fragment was sequenced with M13 forward and reverse primers, using methods previously reported (Garénaux et al, ). The sequences were analyzed using Applied Biosystems 3500 Series Genetic Analyzers (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), and submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (GenBank accession KX688756).…”