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Identification of porcine sperm plasma membrane proteins that may play a role in sperm–egg fusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Kendall Ash ,
Trish Berger ,
Catherine M. Horner  and
C. Chris Calvert
Kendall Ash
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Trish Berger*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Catherine M. Horner
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
C. Chris Calvert
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
*
Trish Berger, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8521, USA. Telephone: 916-752-1267. Fax: 916-752-0175.
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Summary

Sperm plasma membrane (PM) proteins that demonstrate affinity for egg PM preparations have the potential to be biologically important during sperm-egg binding and/or fusion. In this study four such proteins have been identified. To provide quantitative evidence for possible biological function, the large natural variation among different porcine sperm populations with regard to their ability to interact with the egg was compared with the relative binding of egg PM material to individual proteins. An aliquot from each of 24 porcine ejaculates was evaluated by the zona-free hamster ova bioassay and the remainder processed to yield sperm PM vesicles. Aliquots of sperm PM were solubilised, separated by SDS-PAGE, western blotted and probed with partially purified, biotinylated egg PM protein. Bound egg PM proteins were visualised on western blots by an avidin/biotin/horseradish peroxidase system and analysed by scanning laser densitometry. Four sperm PM proteins (62, 39, 27 and 7 kDa estimated molecular mass) were the predominant binders of egg PM. The amount of egg PM bound to the 62 kDa protein was significantly correlated with the ability of sperm from the 24 ejaculates to penetrate zona-free hamster ova (percentage of ova penetrated, p = 0.01, R = 0.65; number of penetrated sperm per ovum, p = 0.02, R = 0.63)

Keywords

Male fertilityOocytePigsperm-egg interaction
Type
Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , May 1995 , pp. 163 - 170
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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