Putative sperm fusion protein IZUMO and the role of N-glycosylation

IZUMO is the mouse sperm protein proven to be essential for fusion with eggs. It contains one immunoglobulin-like domain with a conserved glycosylation site within. In the present paper, we produced transgenic mouse lines expressing unglycosylated IZUMO (N204Q-IZUMO) in Izumo1 −/− background. The ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2008-12, Vol.377 (3), p.910-914
Main Authors: Inoue, Naokazu, Ikawa, Masahito, Okabe, Masaru
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cauda epididymis
Cell Fusion
Dogs
Egg
EGGS
Epididymis - cytology
Epididymis - growth & development
Epididymis - metabolism
Female
Fertility - genetics
FERTILIZATION
FRAGMENTATION
Fusion
Glycosylation
Humans
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
Immunoglobulins - genetics
Immunoglobulins - metabolism
Male
Membrane Proteins - genetics
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Molecular Sequence Data
N-glycan
Ovum - metabolism
Ovum - physiology
Rats
Sperm
SPERMATOZOA
Spermatozoa - metabolism
Spermatozoa - physiology
TRANSGENIC MICE
Transgenic mouse
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Summary:IZUMO is the mouse sperm protein proven to be essential for fusion with eggs. It contains one immunoglobulin-like domain with a conserved glycosylation site within. In the present paper, we produced transgenic mouse lines expressing unglycosylated IZUMO (N204Q-IZUMO) in Izumo1 −/− background. The expression of N204Q-IZUMO rescued the infertile phenotype of IZUMO disrupted mice, indicating glycosylation is not essential for fusion-facilitating activity of IZUMO. The N204Q-IZUMO was produced in testis in comparable amounts to wild-type IZUMO, but the amount of N204Q-IZUMO on sperm was significantly decreased by the time sperm reached the cauda epididymis. These data suggest that glycosylation is not essential for the function of IZUMO, but has a role in protecting it from fragmentation in cauda epididymis.
ISSN:0006-291X
1090-2104
DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.10.073