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Identification and cellular location of glutamine synthetase in human sperm

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Abstract

Glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the de novo synthesis of glutamine, an amino acid that has been shown to influence sperm motility in mammals. To date, no information is available about GS content in human sperm. In this study, we have characterized the presence and cellular location of GS in fresh human normozoospermic samples. We have detected a single band corresponding to GS by Western blot. Confocal analysis has revealed GS immunoreactivity in the post-acrosomal head region. Moreover, double-labeling experiments with either F-actin or calicin have demonstrated GS confinement in the post-acrosomal region of the perinuclear theca. These data have been validated by a post-embedding ultra-structural study. The presence of GS in the post-acrosomal region of the perinuclear theca suggests that human sperm can carry out in glutamine synthesis.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Eduardo Fernandez for kindly providing mouse tissue and to Ariadna Díaz and Vanesa Pinilla for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad de Alicante, Ctra. San Vicente-Alicante S/N, 03080, Alicante, Spain

    Maria Manuela Francou, José R. Hombrebueno & Joaquín De Juan

  2. Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad de Alicante, Apdo. Correos 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain

    Joaquín De Juan

Authors
  1. Maria Manuela Francou
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  2. José R. Hombrebueno
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  3. Joaquín De Juan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joaquín De Juan.

Additional information

Maria Manuela Francou and José R. Hombrebueno contributed equally to this work.

This project was supported by Instituto Bernabeu (Alicante) Grant 1-09I, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (Universidad de Alicante) Grant UAUSTI10-02, and Conselleria d’Educació (Generalitat Valenciana) Grants BEST-2008-069 and BEST-2010-229 to J.D.J.

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Francou, M.M., Hombrebueno, J.R. & De Juan, J. Identification and cellular location of glutamine synthetase in human sperm. Cell Tissue Res 350, 183–187 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1465-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1465-x

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