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Diffusible highly glycosylated protein from Bufo arenarum egg‐jelly coat: Biological activity
Author(s) -
Arranz Silvia E.,
Cabada Marcelo O.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2795(200007)56:3<392::aid-mrd10>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - acrosome , biology , acrosome reaction , incubation , sperm , andrology , vitelline membrane , osmotic concentration , fetuin , biochemistry , glycoprotein , oocyte , embryo , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine
L ‐HGP is a highly glycosylated protein from Bufo arenarum egg‐jelly coat that diffuses into the surrounding medium when the strings of oocytes are incubated in saline solutions. L ‐HGP was purified from egg water and the estimated percentage of L ‐HGP/total protein in egg water was estimated in 30%. In the present study we examine, by indirect immunofluorescence, the effect of L ‐HGP on acrosome status of homologous spermatozoa. A high percentage (77%) of sperm lost the acrosome when incubated in 10% Ringer solution buffered with 10 mM Tris‐HCl, pH 7.6, during 60 min, a condition that resembles egg‐jelly osmolarity. The addition of purified L ‐HGP to the incubation medium prevents acrosome breakdown. The acrosome integrity is maintained for at least 1 hr. This effect is specific for L ‐HGP at concentration ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 mg/ml since neither BSA nor fetuin seems to have similar activity at similar concentrations. The same effect was observed when spermatozoa were incubated in egg water. Preliminary results suggest that L ‐HGP binds to B. arenarum spermatozoan membranes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:392–400, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.