Summary
In the present study, the topographical distribution of carbohydrate binding sites on the plasma membrane of bovine epididymal spermatozoa was investigated using 15 different fluorescent neoglycoproteins and asialoglycoproteins. With mannose-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-fluoresceinthiocarbamyl (FTC), mannose-6-phosphate-BSA-FTC, lactose-BSA-FTC, maltose-BSA-FTC, asialolactoferrin-FTC and asialotransferrin-FTC a marked fluorescence was observed in the postacrosomal area. These results further substantiate the concept that carbohydrate binding sites of the spermatozoan plasma membrane and corresponding carbohydrates of the zona pellucida play a significant role in gamete interactions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahuja KK (1982) Fertilization studies in the hamster. The role of cellsurface carbohydrates. Exp Cell Res 140:353–362
De Ward A, Hickman S, Kornfeld S (1976) Isolation and properties of β-galactoside-binding lectins of calf heart and lung. J Biol Chem 251:7581–7587
Dunbar BS (1983) Morphological, biochemical, and immunochemical characterization of the mammalian zona pellucida. In: Hartmann JF (ed) Mechanism and control of animal fertilization. Academic Press, London, pp 139–175
Edelman GM, Milette CF (1971) Molecular probes of spermatozoan structures. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 68:2436–2440
Frazier W, Glaser L (1979) Surface and cell recognition. Annu Rev Biochem 48:491–523
Gasic GJ, Berwick L, Sorretino M (1968) Positive and negative colloidal iron as cell surface electron stain. Lab Invest 18:63–71
Gwatkin RB (1977) Fertilization mechanism in man and mammals. Plenum Press, New York
Huang TTF, Yanagimachi R (1984) Fucoidan inhibits attachment of guinea pig spermatozoa to the zona pellucida through binding to the inner acrosomal membrane and equatorial domains. Exp Cell Res 153:363–373
Huang TTF, Ohzu Jr E, Yanagimachi R (1982) Evidence suggesting thatl-fucose is part of a recognition signal for sperm-zona pellucida attachment in mammals. Gamete Res 5:355–361
Kieda C, Roche AC, Delmotte F, Monsigny M (1979) Lymphocyte membrane lectins. Direct visualization by the use of fluoresceinyl-glycosylated cytochemical markers. FEBS Lett 99:329–331
McBroom CR, Samanen CH, Goldstein IJ (1972) Carbohydrate antigens: Coupling of carbohydrates to proteins by diazonium and phenylisothiocyanate reactions. Methods Enzymol 28:212–219
Monsigny M, Roche AC, Midoux P (1984) Uptake of neoglycoproteins via membrane lectins of L1210 cells evidenced by quantitative flow cytofluorometry and drug targeting. Biol Cell 51:187–196
Nicolson GL, Usui N, Yanagimachi R, Yanagimachi H, Smith JR (1977) Lectin binding sites on the plasma membranes of rabbit spermatozoa. J Cell Biol 74:950–962
Querinjeau P, Masson PL, Hereman JF (1971) Molecular weight, single chain structure and amino acid composition of human lactoferrin. Eur J Biochem 20:420–425
Roche AC, Barzilay M, Midoux P, Junqua S, Sharon S, Monsigny M (1983) Sugar specific endocytosis of glycoproteins by Lewis lung carcinoma cells. J Cell Biochem 22:131–140
Roseman S (1970) The synthesis of complex carbohydrates by multiglycosyltransferase systems and their potential function in intercellular adhesion. Chem Phys Lipids 5:270–297
Sando GN, Karson EM (1980) p-Isothiocyanatophenyl 6-phospho-alpha-d-mannopyranoside complex to albumin. A model compound recognized by the fibroblast lysosomal enzyme uptake system. 1. Chemical synthesis and characterization. Biochemistry 19:3850–3855
Schulte BA, Spicer SS (1983) Light microscopic detection of sugar residues in glycoconjugates of salivary glands and the pancreas with lectin horseradish peroxidase conjugates. I. Mouse. Histochem J 15:1217–1238
Schwartz BA, Gray GR (1977) Proteins containing reductively aminated disaccharides. Arch Biochem Biophys 181:542–549
Shur BD, Hall NG (1982) A role for mouse sperm surface galactosyl transferase in sperm binding to egg zona pellucida. J Cell Biol 95:574–579
Sinowatz F, Friess AE (1983) Localization of lectin receptors on bovine epididymal spermatozoa using a colloidal gold technique Histochemistry 79:335–344
Töpfer-Petersen E, Friess AE, Nguyen H, Schill WB (1985) Evidence for a fucose binding protein in boar spermatozoa. Histochemistry 83:139–145
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Professor Dr. T.H. Schiebler on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sinowatz, F., Gabius, H.J. & Amselgruber, W. Surface sugar binding components of bovine spermatozoa as evidenced by fluorescent neoglycoproteins. Histochemistry 88, 395–399 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00570300
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00570300