| First Author | Phopin K | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Mol Reprod Dev | Volume | 80 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 273-85 |
| PubMed ID | 23426913 | Mgi Jnum | J:196085 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5486533 | Doi | 10.1002/mrd.22164 |
| Citation | Phopin K, et al. (2013) Roles of mouse sperm-associated alpha-L-fucosidases in fertilization. Mol Reprod Dev 80(4):273-85 |
| abstractText | Sperm-associated alpha-L-fucosidases have been implicated in fertilization in many species. Previously, we documented the existence of alpha-L-fucosidase in mouse cauda epididymal contents, and showed that sperm-associated alpha-L-fucosidase is cryptically stored within the acrosome and reappears within the sperm equatorial segment after the acrosome reaction. The enrichment of sperm membrane-associated alpha-L-fucosidase within the equatorial segment of acrosome-reacted cells implicates its roles during fertilization. Here, we document the absence of alpha-L-fucosidase in mouse oocytes and early embryos, and define roles of sperm associated alpha-L-fucosidase in fertilization using specific inhibitors and competitors. Mouse sperm were pretreated with deoxyfuconojirimycin (DFJ, an inhibitor of alpha-L-fucosidase) or with anti-fucosidase antibody; alternatively, mouse oocytes were pretreated with purified human liver alpha-L-fucosidase. Five-millimolar DFJ did not inhibit sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) binding, membrane binding, or fusion and penetration, but anti-fucosidase antibody and purified human liver alpha-L-fucosidase significantly decreased the frequency of these events. To evaluate sperm-associated alpha-L-fucosidase enzyme activity in post-fusion events, DFJ-pretreated sperm were microinjected into oocytes, and 2-pronuclear (2-PN) embryos were treated with 5 mM DFJ with no significant effects, suggesting that alpha-L-fucosidase enzyme activity does not play a role in post-fusion events and/or early embryo development in mice. The recognition and binding of mouse sperm to the ZP and oolemma involves the glycoprotein structure of alpha-L-fucosidase, but not its catalytic action. These observations suggest that deficits in fucosidase protein and/or the presence of anti-fucosidase antibody may be responsible for some types of infertility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 273-285, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
