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ADAM7 is associated with epididymosomes and integrated into sperm plasma membrane

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Molecules and Cells

Abstract

During epididymal transit, mammalian sperm acquire selected proteins secreted by the epididymis. We previously showed that a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 7 is expressed specifically in the epididymis and transferred to the sperm surface during epididymal transit. Here, we show that mouse ADAM7 secreted to the epididymal lumen is associated with membranous vesicles known as epididymosomes. Furthermore, we found that ADAM7 can be transferred directly from epididymal vesicles to sperm and that it is an integral plasma membrane protein in sperm. Thus, our study provides new information regarding the unique mode of secretion and interaction of ADAM7 during the epididymis-to-sperm transfer process.

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Author notes

  1. Jeong Su Oh

    Present address: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea

    Jeong Su Oh, Cecil Han & Chunghee Cho

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  1. Jeong Su Oh
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  2. Cecil Han
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  3. Chunghee Cho
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Correspondence to Chunghee Cho.

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Oh, J.S., Han, C. & Cho, C. ADAM7 is associated with epididymosomes and integrated into sperm plasma membrane. Mol Cells 28, 441–446 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-009-0140-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-009-0140-x

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