Epididymosomes: transfer of fertility‑modulating proteins to the sperm surface

Author(s)Martin‑DeLeon, Patricia A.
Ordered AuthorPatricia A Martin‑DeLeon
UD AuthorMartin‑DeLeon, Patricia A.en_US
Date Accessioned2015-12-09T18:24:15Z
Date Available2015-12-09T18:24:15Z
Copyright DateCopyright ©2015 AJA, SIMM & SJTU.en_US
Publication Date2015-06-26
DescriptionPublisher's PDF.en_US
AbstractA variety of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‑linked proteins are acquired on spermatozoa from epididymal luminal fluids (ELF) during sperm maturation. These proteins serve roles in immunoprotection and in key steps of fertilization such as capacitation, acrosomal exocytosis and sperm‑egg interactions. Their acquisition on sperm cells is mediated both by membrane vesicles (epididymosomes, EP) which were first reported to dock on the sperm surface, and by lipid carriers which facilitate the transfer of proteins associated with the membrane‑free fraction of ELF. While the nonvesicular fraction is more efficient, both pathways are dependent on hydrophobic interactions between the GPI‑anchor and the external lipid layer of the sperm surface. More recently proteomic and hypothesis‑driven studies have shown that EP from several mammals carry transmembrane (TM) proteins, including plasma membrane Ca2+‑ATPase 4 (PMCA4). Synthesized in the testis, PMCA4 is an essential protein and the major Ca2+ efflux pump in murine spermatozoa. Delivery of PMCA4 to spermatozoa from bovine and mouse EP during epididymal maturation and in vitro suggests that the docking of EP on the sperm surface precedes fusion, and experimental evidence supports a fusogenic mechanism for TM proteins. Fusion is facilitated by CD9, which generates fusion–competent sites on membranes. On the basis of knowledge of PMCA4’s interacting partners a number of TM and membrane‑associated proteins have been identified or are predicted to be present, in the epididymosomal cargo deliverable to spermatozoa. These Ca2+‑dependent proteins, undetected in proteomic studies, play essential roles in sperm motility and fertility, and their detection highlights the usefulness of the hypothesis‑driven approach.en_US
DepartmentUniversity of Delaware. Department of Biological Sciences.en_US
CitationAsian Journal of Andrology (2015) 17, 720–725; doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.155538en_US
DOIdoi: 10.4103/1008-682X.155538en_US
ISSN1008-682X ; e- 1745-7262en_US
URLhttp://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/17291
Languageen_USen_US
PublisherShanghai Materia Medica, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.en_US
dc.rightsCC-BY NC SA 3.0en_US
dc.sourceAsian Journal of Andrologyen_US
dc.source.urihttp://www.asiaandro.com/index.aspen_US
TitleEpididymosomes: transfer of fertility‑modulating proteins to the sperm surfaceen_US
TypeArticleen_US
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